De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou crash, Jan 29, 1997 (1 killed)
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou accident on January 29, 1997 near Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: Loss of right propeller control...
- Date: January 29, 1997
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
- Location: Sparrevohn, Alaska, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Loss of right propeller control oil causing overspeed and engine shutdown, combined with the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and terrain clearance during a visual approach in adverse weather. The crew had also exceeded their maximum duty day.
A SouthCentral Air Caribou cargo flight carrying mining equipment from Saint Mary's to Kenai lost propeller control oil on the right engine at 12,000 feet, forcing that engine to be shut down. The crew diverted toward a remote military airfield, and in a visual approach through high winds and blowing snow the aircraft struck snow-covered terrain about 2 miles short of the field. The one fatality was a crew member.