Douglas DC-6 accident near Nuiqsut, Alaska, November 25, 2013
On November 25, 2013 at about 2:21 pm local time, a 1953 Douglas DC-6, registered N100CE, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Nuiqsut, Alaska (Alpine Airstrip airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A load shift during takeoff, which resulted in substantial damage to the aft bulkhead and associated structures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2013 · about 2:21 pm local time
- Place
- Nuiqsut, Alaska · Alpine Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-6, built 1953 · all DC-6s on the register
- Registration
- N100CE · registry record · serial 44662
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the purpose of the short, 22 minute flight was to deliver a load of oversized, oil drilling tools to a remote oil production site. The flightcrew reported that shortly after takeoff the first officer noticed that the airplane's elevator control movements appeared to be "momentarily stiff." While en route to the destination, the flight engineer was asked to inspect the cargo, and he subsequently discovered that two of the four, 31-foot long oil drilling tools had shifted aft, damaging the aft pressure bulkhead. The captain did not declare an emergency, and the airplane landed at the destination without incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the aft pressure bulkhead assembly, as well as various frames, stringers and structural longerons. In addition, several attachments for the elevator flight control pulleys and flight control cable guides were damaged. The operator noted that the airplane's pressurization system had been removed years ago, when the airplane was converted to a cargo configuration. The operator reported that after loading the airplane, just before departure, the crew inspected the five nylon strapping mechanisms that secured the four drilling tools to the floor of the airplane. The crew reported that all five of the nylon straps were tight before departure, but gathered that one or more had loosened slightly during taxi and takeoff, allowing two of the tools to shift aft during takeoff. The crew also noted that the drilling tools were covered with ice and snow, which likely aided in the tools sliding along the aluminum, diamond plate-covered floor of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Cargo compartments › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,100 hours in all; 12,100 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 9,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,516 hours in all; 968 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 13, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight Engineer
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32,042 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 21, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 100,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tatonduk Outfitters LTD
The flight
- Departed from: AK15 Nuiqsut AK
- Destination: PASC Deadhorse AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: -6°F (-21°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC14CA012.