Federal investigators said the Cessna 441 crashed during a second landing attempt near Cape Newenham as visibility deteriorated.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Eight people were killed when a charter plane carrying U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and contractors crashed Aug. 20 near a remote military radar site in western Alaska during its second attempt to land, federal investigators said.
The twin-engine Cessna 441 was operated by Anchorage-based Security Aviation and had been chartered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a flight from Anchorage to the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site. The National Transportation Safety Board said two pilots and six passengers were aboard. Two passengers were Corps employees and four were contractors. Authorities had not publicly identified those killed as of Aug. 22.
NTSB Alaska region chief Clint Johnson said the aircraft left Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport at about 9:15 a.m. and crashed at roughly 11:45 a.m. near the Cape Newenham airport. Investigators said the wreckage was found about a quarter-mile to a third of a mile west of the runway in rising, rugged terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration’s preliminary accident notice identified the aircraft as registration N128EZ and listed Security Aviation as its operator.
Investigators said the pilots first attempted to land at Cape Newenham but made a missed approach. They then began another approach while weather conditions limited their ability to see the ground. Johnson said the pilots were navigating using instruments because of the poor visibility. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft around the second missed approach, according to the NTSB’s preliminary account.
Weather is expected to be a major part of the investigation, though federal officials have not determined what caused the crash. Preliminary information reviewed by investigators showed visibility deteriorating as the aircraft approached Cape Newenham. The area experienced fog and mist, while low clouds reduced visibility near the airport. Investigators are expected to compare those conditions with flight data, radar information, air traffic control communications and the decisions made during the approach.
The Cape Newenham airport serves a remote military installation in western Alaska. The long-range radar site is managed through the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center and belongs to a network that monitors aircraft operating in and around Alaska’s airspace. Because of the site’s isolation, aircraft are used to move workers, contractors, equipment and supplies to the area. The surrounding terrain also presents logistical challenges for investigators trying to reach and recover wreckage.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that two of its employees died in the crash and said their next of kin had been notified. The Corps said the flight was traveling to Cape Newenham and that it was coordinating with local, state and federal authorities. Other reporting said the employees were part of a project delivery team traveling to support work for the U.S. Air Force. Officials had not released the employees’ names or detailed their assignments at the site as of Saturday.
Security Aviation said it was cooperating with federal investigators and expressed condolences to the families and friends of those killed. The Anchorage charter company operates flights throughout Alaska, including transportation to remote locations. Investigators have not accused the company or the flight crew of wrongdoing, and no determination has been made about whether weather, mechanical problems, human factors or another issue caused or contributed to the crash.
The accident prompted a search-and-recovery response involving military and civilian agencies. Personnel who reached the crash site confirmed there were no survivors. Federal officials said the location and terrain would make recovery work difficult, with helicopters expected to play a role in moving investigators and wreckage. The NTSB planned to send a team to document the debris field and recover major aircraft components for further examination.
The timing reported by federal agencies shifted as investigators gathered more information. Early FAA information placed the crash around midday, while the NTSB’s later briefing put the accident at about 11:45 a.m. Such differences are common in the first stages of an aviation investigation, when officials are still comparing radar, flight-tracking information, witness reports and other records. The NTSB’s investigation is intended to establish a detailed sequence of events before it reaches conclusions about the probable cause.
Investigators had not announced a probable cause as of Saturday. The NTSB was continuing efforts to reach the remote site, examine the wreckage and collect radar, weather and flight information. Authorities also had not announced when the names of the pilots and passengers would be released.
Author note: Last updated August 22, 2026.