Fairchild C-119 accident near Venetie, Alaska, April 21, 1984
On April 21, 1984 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Fairchild C-119, registered N15509, was destroyed in an accident near Venetie, Alaska (Tobin Creek airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Venetie, Alaska · Tobin Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild C-119 · all C-119s on the register
- Registration
- N15509 · registry record · serial 10775
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF ON AN AIRSTRIP WHERE BRAKING ACTION WAS CONSIDERED GOOD DURING THE NORMAL SUMMER SEASON. IT WAS ABOUT 3000 FT IN ELEVATION & WAS SNOW COVERED MOST OF THE YEAR, AS ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE STRIP ACCOMODATED TAKEOFFS TO THE SOUTH ONLY DUE TO GRADING AND OBSTRUCTIONS. FREQUENTLY, THIS MENT A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. ON THEDAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS A 5 KT WIND FROM THE NORTH WITH GUSTS TO 10 KTS. THE PLT SAID THAT NOSE WHEEL STEERING WAS NOT EFFECTIVE DUE TO THE SURFACE AND THE RUDDER WAS NOT RESPONSIVE DUE TO THE TAILWIND. MOST PLTS USED A 25 DEG (RIGHT TURN) DOGLEG OF THE RWY AT THE NORTH END TO START THEIR TAKEOFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN TAILWINDS WERE PRESENT. THE ACCIDENT ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK WHERE IT NOSED OVER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,060 hours in all; 3,503 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 14,915 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 72,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-3350-89-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Supra Intnl INC
The flight
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft by 120 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 ANC84LA058.