Fate of C-54 N898AL?

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:53 pm

All

A query from a buddy - any one advise if the aircraft is still extant, and if so who owns it?

TIA
Dave

The aircraft I am looking for is C-54 N898AL which crashed in 1998 at
Kivalina, Alaska. The aircraft was in good condition, and likely the
repair was just not feasible or impossible at the place. The aircraft was
around for a few years, but it seems it was moved from the airfield to a
city lot, perhaps a dumpsite. Reputedly it was seen there a few months
ago. I am trying to verify if it is still somewhere there, and to whom
it belongs.

Silverplate · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:39 am

FAA records indicate registration was cancelled 5-21-98 due to aircraft destroyed.

The aircraft did have a lot history.

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:58 pm

Thanks, it may have been 'destroyed' as far as being feasible to put it back in the air, but apparantly it was a nose gear collapse and the substantial 'wreckage' was still out there recently.
Anyone know of an Alaskan Aviation specific forum?

Dave

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:06 pm

Have you tried contacting Ruud Leeuw?

www.ruudleeuw.com

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 746

Here are a three photos of it, dated 2006. taken by Roland Adams and posted on Flickr.

Seems there isnt too much left in the cockpit..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandadams/217377417/

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 746

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS253US253&q=kivalina&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Kivalina,+AK&gl=us&ei=0ZrvSu-0AsG2lAffoYHxCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA

Kivalina isnt that big. Doesn't look like there's a C-54 anywhere nearby for miles...at least not large pieces..

RuudLeeuw · **Posted:** Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:24 pm

In Oct.2008, in a thread on Yahoo's Classic-Propliners group, it was determined N898AL no longer to be present at Kivalina, in as much one can use Google Maps and Google Earth as tools for this.
I suspect Roger Brooks may have had something to do with it, although a look at the rudder makes one conclude he left it a little late. Or maybe the mayor (?) of Kivalina put an ultimatum to Roger..?
Anyone in a position to ask Roger Brooks?

Aad · **Posted:** Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:52 am

Ruud, Dave,

My first post on this forum...

Kivalina is one of the Alaskan communities that is gradually being washed away by the ocean, due to natural erosion, expedited by the effects of global warming. The ocean now no longer freezes up during early autumn, before the storms come, but much later in the year.

The wreck of N898AL was broken up by the locals late September 2005, and large sections of the aircraft's wings and fuselage were used to strengthen the seawall on the island's southwestern coastline. Some photos here:
http://pub36.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?usernum=3021278268#bn-photocenter-1-1-3021278268/49694/1/

But these people are fighting a losing battle (merely buying time to prepare for relocation), and these aircraft sections have probably already disappeared into the ocean during later storms.
It would be fairly safe to assume that N898AL is gone...

Hope this helps,

Aad van der Voet
http://www.oldwings.nl

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:49 pm

Hi Aad

Many thanks for the confirmation that the aircraft has met its demise, sad news, but I guess they can't all survive.

regards
Dave

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Fate of C-54 N898AL?

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