County of memorial: St. Louis County
Location of memorial: Middle Dr. & Monument Dr., Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay
TOMBSTONE TEXT:
Killed - Aircraft Accident - Alaska
November 27, 1970
"Capitol International Airways, Inc ., Flight C2C3/26, of November 27, 1970, a Douglas DC-8-63, N4909C, crashed and burned at approximately 1705 A.s .t., following an unsuccessful takeoff attempt from Runway 6R at the Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska.
"The flight was being operated as a Military Airlift Command (MAC) contract flight from McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington, to Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of South Viet Ham, with enroute refueling stops at Anchorage, Alaska, and Yokota, Japan.
"The investigation disclosed that the aircraft failed to become airborne during the takeoff run and overran the end of the runway. It continued along the ground and struck a low wooden barrier, the instrument landing system (ILS) structure, and a 12-foot deep drainage ditch before coasting to a stop approximately 3,400 feet beyond the end of the runway.
"The aircraft was destroyed in the intense ground fire which developed subsequent to the crash.
"There were 219 military passengers (including six dependents) and a crew of 10 aboard the aircraft. Forty-six passengers arid one flight attendant received fatal injuries as a result of the post-crash fire.
"At the time of the takeoff, a very light freezing drizzle was occurring at the airport. Runway 6R was covered with ice with braking action reported as fair to poor.
"Following the accident, tire skid marks, degraded rubber and shredded tire casings were found over most of the length of the runway." ~ Flight Simulation Systems, LLC
"Impact conditions were survivable, as the occupied area of the aircraft remained relatively intact and decelerative forces were not of a magnitude to cause incapacitating trauma that would have prevented escape. However, postcrash fire and explosions caused intolerable conditions which prevented the escape of some of the nonincapacitated occupants.
“Pathological examination of the deceased disclosed that all of the fatalities, 46 passengers and one flight attendant, were caused by fire or by the inhalation of the products of combustion. There were no traumatic injuries found that would have caused death. In only one fatality was there any finding that would indicate a possible degree of incapacitation due to decelerative forces.
“The aircraft carried a full load of 219 passengers. Of these passengers, 213 were active duty military personnel and six were military dependents. All of the dependents survived the accident.” ~ NTSB 1972, p. 14