July 03, Sitka, Alaska / Cessna 421

At about 1600 Alaska time, a Cessna 421 crashed while on an instrument approach about four miles north of Sitka Airport. The pilot and four passengers were killed. A technician at the Sitka Flight Service Station told investigators the pilot reported that a forward baggage door had come open, and that he wanted to land at Sitka and inspect the door. The pilot was cleared for the GPS Rwy 11 approach to Sitka. The pilot reported he was final approach fix inbound on the instrument approach, but the airplane never arrived at the airport. The accident site was inside the final approach fix, three miles from the missed approach point, and about two miles north of the course centerline....

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Key Takeaways:

  • A Cessna 421 crashed four miles north of Sitka Airport during an instrument approach, killing the pilot and four passengers.
  • Prior to the crash, the pilot reported that a forward baggage door had opened and requested to land at Sitka for inspection.
  • Despite being cleared for the GPS Rwy 11 approach and reporting final approach fix inbound, the aircraft crashed inside the final approach fix and about two miles north of the course centerline.
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At about 1600 Alaska time, a Cessna 421 crashed while on an instrument approach about four miles north of Sitka Airport. The pilot and four passengers were killed. A technician at the Sitka Flight Service Station told investigators the pilot reported that a forward baggage door had come open, and that he wanted to land at Sitka and inspect the door. The pilot was cleared for the GPS Rwy 11 approach to Sitka. The pilot reported he was final approach fix inbound on the instrument approach, but the airplane never arrived at the airport. The accident site was inside the final approach fix, three miles from the missed approach point, and about two miles north of the course centerline.

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