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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 1984
- 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 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N15509 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Fairchild C-119 9 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Fairchild 616 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Wright R-3350-89-B 10 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fairbanks International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC84LA058.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.