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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 21, 2026Miami-Dade

Small plane crash at Cape Newenham radar site kills eight, including two Army Corps of Engineers employees

A Cessna 441 crashed in heavy fog while attempting to land at a remote military radar site in western Alaska, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board. The flight, operated by Security Aviation, was carrying two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and four contractors to the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site for maintenance work.

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Why It Matters

The incident highlights the risks associated with air travel to remote military infrastructure and has prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the flight's final approach.

Key Facts

  • Eight people died in a plane crash at the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site in western Alaska.
  • The aircraft was a twin-engine Cessna 441, also known as a Cessna Conquest.
  • The flight was operated by Anchorage-based charter company Security Aviation.
  • Two victims were employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Four victims were contractors, including two employees of Calista Brice, a subsidiary of Calista Corp.
  • The crash occurred midday Thursday during the plane's second landing attempt in heavy fog.
  • Regulations required the pilots to abort the first landing attempt due to poor visibility.
  • The crash site is located approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage.
  • The Cape Newenham site is a remote military facility managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center.
  • Visibility dropped from 10 miles to less than one-quarter mile in the 15 minutes surrounding the crash.
  • The NTSB is investigating the crash and was traveling to the scene on Friday.

Who's Mentioned

organizationCalista Corp.“Parent company of contractors on board”personRobert Davis“U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen.”organizationU.S. Army Corps of Engineers“Employer of two victims”locationCape Newenham Long Range Radar Site“Site of the crash”organizationSecurity Aviation“Charter company operating the flight”personCarrie Haisley“National Weather Service meteorologist”personClint Johnson“NTSB Alaska region chief”