# NTSB DCA74AZ005: Douglas DC-8, N802WA, King Cove, AK, September 8, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1973
- Place: King Cove, AK · KING COVE, AK
- Location: 55.0837° N, 162.3214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of King Cove, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.0837&lon=-162.3214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 1974
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79691
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA74AZ005
- Board report AAR7406 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7406.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA74AZ005

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0018   73/9/8  NR.KING COVE,ALAS     DOUGLAS DC-8        CR-  3  0  0  MIL CONTRACT CARGO INTL   AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0442                    N802WA              PX-  3  0  0                            52, 22913 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1969 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - WORLD AIRWAYS,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          TRAVIS AFB,CALIF            CLARK AFB,RP                 YOKOTA AFB,JAPAN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: INITIAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      46
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          300                                                       24
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DSCNDD BLO MSA IN MTN TRRN.HIT MT 3500FT LVL,15.5MI E OF ARPT.MIL WX BRFG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N802WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802WA-1975-05-06), registration cancelled 1975-05-06, S/N 46146 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-63CF](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-8-63cf) (registry code 302198J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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