The Alaska commuter plane that disappeared last month before its wreck was discovered with all 10 onboard dead was more than 1,000 pounds overweight at the time of takeoff, according to details of a preliminary investigation released Wednesday.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board said in a new report that the fatal Bering Air Cessna flight was significantly overloaded for Alaska’s expected icy weather conditions on Feb. 6 which could have contributed to its rapid loss of altitude and ultimate demise that day.
“[T]he airplane’s estimated gross takeoff weight at departure was about 9,865 lbs, which was about 1,058 lbs over the maximum takeoff gross weight for flight into known or forecast icing conditions,” the preliminary report from the NTSB stated.
“It was also about 803 lbs over the maximum gross takeoff weight for any flight operation under the APE III flight manual supplement,” the report said.
The APE III is a payload extender that the doomed Textron Aviation plane was outfitted with, which increased the maximum gross takeoff weight for the aircraft.
Cargo and baggage on the flight weighed about 709 lbs.
NTSB said in its preliminary report that there were no significant meteorological weather advisories or warnings at the time of the crash. The full NTSB investigation will continue to examine all possible weather factors, the report stated.
The plane which was traveling between the communities of Unalakleet and Nome was also flown by an experienced pilot, according to the report.
Pilot Chan Antill, 34, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land airplanes. He also had instrument privileges in planes, according to the report.
Before his death, he had accumulated about 2,500 hours of flight time.
Antill flew 58.4 hours in the 30 days preceding the accident and 4.4 hours in the week prior, according to the NTSB.
The Cessna Caravan flight was carrying Antill and his nine passengers when authorities lost all contact just an hour after takeoff and the plane seemingly vanished from the map.
The wreckage was found the following day, Feb. 7, on sea ice off Alaska’s coast.
It was the third major plane crash in the US in just over a week.
The official cause of the crash has not yet been determined as the NTSB is continuing its investigation.
A full and final report with the official cause will be released at a later date.
JAMM AQUINO/JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The tails of Alaska Airlines, left, and Hawaiian Airlines aircraft are seen at the gates at Kahului International Airport, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Kahului, Hawaii.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Veterans Day is a national holiday that encourages communities to stop and thank those who served in the armed forces.
About 8% of Alaskans are veterans, a higher concentration than in any other state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
While some of the bigger Veterans Day events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fairbanks were canceled this year, there are still plenty of events to attend to throughout the state.
The Municipality of Anchorage will be hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at Merrill Field at the 11th Air Force Memorial at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. Invited guests include Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, Alaska Territorial Guard, Canadian Arctic Members and local military and community leaders.
In Wasilla, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 43-3 will host at the Veterans Wall of Honor, 801 N Fishhook Road, at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Over in Palmer, the Matanuska-Susitna College will be doing a tribute to veterans at the Glen Massay Theater at 2 p.m. There will be a special presentation by Battle Dawgs, a POW/MIA Ceremony, and the guest of honor will be retired Sgt. Tom Spangler. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony.
Arctic Light Elementary School on Fort Wainwright will host its Veterans Day Assembly from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the school gym. Guests are welcome to enter through the gym doors starting at 8:15 a.m.
In Fairbanks, the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs will host a BBQ luncheon and a Marine Corps Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony. The open house luncheon will start at noon at 751 Old Richardson Highway.
There will also be a Veterans Day Town Hall at the 8 Star Events Center with members of the Interior Delegation to listen to the concerns veterans may have and to learn more about the veteran community. The town hall will begin at 5 p.m.
Interior Alaska American Legion Post 99 will continue its partnership with the Eielson Air Force Base Honor Guard and the North Pole High School JRTOC to host a flag retirement ceremony on Veterans Day. The ceremony will take place at the Alaska Rangers Camp at 5 p.m.
Down south in Homer, the annual Veterans Day Parade will begin at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday at the Homer Emblem Club Veterans’ Memorial at the corner of Lake Street and Pioneer. The parade will conclude with a ceremony at the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center. Veterans are then invited to enjoy a complimentary meal from the Homer Elks Lodge #2127.
Seward Public Schools will be hosting a program at Seward High School from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch will be served, and there will also be performances from the Band and Choir.
In Juneau, the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans will be hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony and Luncheon at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall at 11 a.m. The ceremony will also include a keynote address from retired Army Maj. Gen. Richard Mustion.
In Ketchikan, American Legion Post 3 will be hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at 631 Park Avenue around 9:30 a.m. The ceremonies will conclude around noon with the presentation of 6 Quilts of Valor.
In Nome, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9569 will be organizing a Veterans Day Parade. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and will begin at the Post Office, and will end at St. Joe’s Park. The community is encouraged to come out.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
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