Witness says Alaska plane that crashed had smoke coming from engine after takeoff, NTSB finds

JUNEAU, Alaska -- A witnesser saw fume coming from 1 of the engines of an aged subject level that crashed past week soon aft taking disconnected connected a formation to present substance to a distant Alaska village, according to a preliminary clang study released Thursday.

The witnesser said that soon aft the level took disconnected from a Fairbanks airdrome connected April 23, helium noticed that 1 of its engines wasn't moving and that determination was achromatic fume coming from it, the National Transportation Safety Board study states. When the level turned south, helium saw that the motor was connected fire, it says.

Not agelong aft that, the 54D-DC airplane — a subject mentation of the World War II-era Douglas DC-4 — crashed and burned, sidesplitting the 2 pilots.

Before the crash, 1 of the pilots told aerial postulation power that determination was a occurrence connected committee and that helium was trying to alert the 7 miles (11 kilometers) backmost to Fairbanks.

Surveillance video showed achromatic fume down the engine, followed by flames, the study states. Seconds later, “a agleam achromatic detonation is seen conscionable down the fig 1 motor followed by fragments of airplane wreckage falling to the ground,” it says.

The astir 80-year-old airplane past began an uncontrolled descending near turn, with the motor separating from the wing.

The level landed connected a slope supra the Tanana River and slid down to the bank, leaving a way of debris. The engine, which came to remainder connected the frozen river, has been recovered and volition acquisition a elaborate examination, the study says, noting that overmuch of the level burned aft the crash.

The probable origin of the clang volition travel successful a aboriginal report.

The level was carrying 3,400 gallons (12,870 liters) of unleaded substance and 2 ample propane tanks intended for the colony of Kobuk, a tiny Inupiat assemblage astir 300 miles (480 kilometers) northwest of Fairbanks. Earlier reports said the level was carrying 3,200 gallons (12,113 liters) of heating oil.

Air tankers present substance to galore agrarian Alaska communities, particularly those disconnected the roadworthy strategy and that person nary mode for barges to scope them.

The authorities aesculapian examiner’s bureau has not yet positively identified the 2 radical connected board, Alaska Department of Public Safety spokesperson Austin McDaniel said successful a Thursday email.

The level was owned by Alaska Air Fuel Inc., which did not connection contiguous remark Thursday.

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Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska.