Plane Crash in Denali National Park

We received two emails this morning from Denali National Park concerning a tragic plane crash that took place yesterday afternoon. This first email arrived in our inboxes at 10:24pm:

Plane Crashes in Denali National Park With Fatalities

At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 1 a large multi-engine cargo-type aircraft crashed into the south-facing slope of Mount Healy within a mile of the park headquarters and approximately 200 yards north of the Denali Park Road. The crash started a wildland fire, which is currently contained at approximately one acre. As the fire is still active, a thorough investigation of the scene is not possible until the fire is under control. There are fatalities, but the number and identities can not be confirmed at this time.

The first personnel arrived on scene within minutes, but the wreckage was already engulfed in flames. In addition to National Park Service medics and other emergency responders, the Tri-Valley and McKinley Village volunteer fire departments responded with fire engines and an ambulance. The Tanana Zone of the Alaska Fire Service dropped eight smokejumpers into the scene. The jumpers and Denali wildland fire fighters are currently putting water on hot spots to fully control and extinguish the fire. They and NPS rangers will be on scene overnight. The Alaska State Troopers also responded and have assisted with the investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified. The NTSB investigators will arrive on scene tomorrow morning.

The Denali Park Road is open to traffic, but the Rock Creek and Roadside Trails (which link park headquarters and the Denali Visitor Center) are temporarily closed. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in effect over the crash site until further notice. Pilots using the park airstrip or transiting the Windy Pass area are cautioned to check Notices to Aircraft (NOTAMs) and be alert for firefighting and official aircraft.

This second email arrived at 2:23am:

Plane Involved in Denali Park Crash Identified

The multi-engine cargo plane involved in the Sunday, August 1 accident in Denali National Park was a Fairchild C-123 registered to All West Freight, Inc. of Delta Junction, Alaska. There were three people reported to be on board. It appears as if there were no survivors. The identities are not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

The plane crashed into the south-facing slope of Mount Healy within a mile of the park headquarters and approximately 200 yards north of the Denali Park Road. The crash started a wildland fire, which has been contained at approximately one acre.

The first personnel arrived on scene within minutes, but the wreckage was already engulfed in flames. Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers and Denali wildland fire fighters are putting water on hot spots to extinguish the fire. They and NPS rangers will be on scene overnight. National Transportation Safety Board investigators will arrive on scene tomorrow morning.

The Denali Park Road is open to traffic, but the Rock Creek and Roadside Trails (which link park headquarters and the Denali Visitor Center) are temporarily closed. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in effect over the crash site until further notice. Pilots using the park airstrip or transiting the Windy Pass area are cautioned to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and be alert for firefighting and official aircraft.