The captain on board this once-beautiful DC-6 carrying fish and cargo between Togiak and Cold Bay, Alaska, took the blame for June 12 landing prang at Cold Bay.
According to the NTSB factual report issued 29 July, the captain told investigators "he distracted the crew by pointing out a boat dock" as the four-engine plane approached the runway. "He said that after touchdown, he realized that the landing gear was not extended, and the airplane slid on its belly, sustaining substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage," says the NTSB.
In his written statement to the board, the captain said there were "no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane", but he said the flight crew did not hear the landing gear retracted warning horn.
How to avoid this type of accident in the first place? NTSB: "The captain also stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had not distracted the crew."
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