Another old bird has its final flight

[Baradium]

I'm sad to report that last  (1/16) week Brooks Fuel lost one of their DC-4s in the Bush.   From what I've gathered so far, the #1 engine caught fire and blowing the fire bottles failed to extinguish it.  They weren't able to make it to the nearest airport (not exactly a surprise in Alaska), although they did make it to within 5 miles of Nenana.

They had a fuel load of fuel oil (diesel fuel) destined for the villages.  I'm sure they also haul gasoline like everts does, so it was fortunate that diesel was their load.  While it is sad that the bird will probobly never fly again, I am happy to say that the flight crew survived.

I've seen pictures, but don't have a way to get them onto a computer.   They took out a lot of trees and ended up turned 90 degrees to their direction of travel.  Most of the aircraft is intact, with a noticable portion of the left wing outboad of the #1 engine missing.

[Mike]

 

Goodbye DC-4 

not many left of those, huh?!

[Gulfstream Driver]

I think tundra_flier commented on this and posted a web site to see the wreckage.  Looks like the crew did an awesome job of saving themselves and most of the plane.  I'm sure there's a billionaire somewhere that would be willing to take on a project like that.  It is too bad to see history just sitting there in pieces, though.

[TheSoccerMom]

It is in the other thread -- photos and all.   

That is the faithful old Tanker 153 -- just talked to the guy who owned her back then -- said it's pretty sad to see his old bird that way, in the photos.

She sure took care of a lot of guys over the years, and apparently, the last crew, too.  My hat is off to them for getting her down in the black spruce.   

[Baradium]

I tried to look around before I posted and missed the other thread... need to look some more it sounds like.   

I saw that bird on a daily basis... going to be wierd with her parking spot empty.


As far as a billionaire wanting a project, there are more intact aircraft sitting in boneyards already... can't see someone putting her back together myself... as much as I hate to say it.



Ok, I'm searching and I must be missing something, where is this thread?

[TheSoccerMom]

Hi there, nice to see your name again!!  Sounds like you have been busy.

It took me a minute to find it, but it's under Inflight Entertainment -- There I Was -- What Have You Flown So Far.  Tundra posted a link that has photos.  The guy who owned that airplane for years said it sounds like they did a helluva job landing, the black spruce were 15-20 feet tall and both pilots were fine.

Sad to see it in the trees;  a lot of tanker guys have mentioned all the years they spent flying that airplane.   

[Baradium]

Hi there, nice to see your name again!!  Sounds like you have been busy.

It took me a minute to find it, but it's under Inflight Entertainment -- There I Was -- What Have You Flown So Far.  Tundra posted a link that has photos.  The guy who owned that airplane for years said it sounds like they did a helluva job landing, the black spruce were 15-20 feet tall and both pilots were fine.

Sad to see it in the trees;  a lot of tanker guys have mentioned all the years they spent flying that airplane.   

Hi, and thank you, it's good to be missed!



I went down to GA for a bit... family friend and neighbor died.      This seems like an appropriate thread to mention it in.     He was a neat guy,  he'd had more actual engine failures in flight than I've ever practiced, and half of them were in singles.   Had a lot of stories.

[TheSoccerMom]

Oh, very sorry to hear about your old friend.  That is always hard.   He sounds like a neat man.   

It's nice that you were able to go home to be there, I am sure they all appreciated that.

Glad that you are back!   

M.

[Baradium]

Oh, very sorry to hear about your old friend.  That is always hard.   He sounds like a neat man.   

It's nice that you were able to go home to be there, I am sure they all appreciated that.

Glad that you are back!   

M.

He was.     I thought for a while I wouldn't be able to get down there, it was at the last possible minute that it all lined up.  14 hours of traveling (11 in the air) after a long day at work can wear you out too! 


Thanks again, glad to be back.

-Ryan

[tundra_flier]

Sorry, I guess I should have posted a new thread instead of adding it to an existing.  I did find out some more info on it today.  Apparently they didn't have an emergency dump valve for the fuel oil bladders.  So they landed with all 3,000 gals onboard! I understand they're almost finished sledding the fuel out, and already making plans to salvage as much of the plane as possible.

BTW, I'd hardly call it the bush, only 30 miles out of Fairbank after all, and Nenana is on the main highway system.   

Phil

[Baradium]

Sorry, I guess I should have posted a new thread instead of adding it to an existing.  I did find out some more info on it today.  Apparently they didn't have an emergency dump valve for the fuel oil bladders.  So they landed with all 3,000 gals onboard! I understand they're almost finished sledding the fuel out, and already making plans to salvage as much of the plane as possible.

BTW, I'd hardly call it the bush, only 30 miles out of Fairbank after all, and Nenana is on the main highway system.   

Phil

I tried searching, but didn't guess the right keywords.     

Fuel oil (diesel fuel) during the winter here is Jet A... which fortunately isn't so easy to get burning nor with as high a tendency to explode as gasoline... so at least they weren't hauling auto fuel...

Yeah, I didn't pay too much attention to exactly where it is... but going into the tundra is going into the tundra, just means a shorter wait or hike to get out!

[Baradium]

I'd like to note that I saw the doppleganger for the downed aircraft today.  Brooks had two DC-4s painted identically.  Seemed weird seeing the other one take off this morning.  Should have taken a picture.