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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-4 / C-54/R5D/C-112 Skymaster / Carvair ATL / Canadair DC-4M/C-4 North Star
    Latest Model:C-54P Skymaster
    Last Military Serial:50857 USN
    Construction Number:10461
    Last Civil Registration:N44911
    Latest Owner or Location:Ganes Creek Mine Airstrip, Ganes Creek, Alaska

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-54B-1-DC by Douglas at Chicago, IL.

    24 November 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 42-72356.

    24 November 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 50857 as a R5D-2.

    Converted to a C-54S.

    Converted to a C-54P.

    Circa April 1969


    Photographer: Nick Williams
    Notes: USN Bu# 50857 C54P VR-6242 APR69 NICK WILLIAMS Bu# 50857 (MSN 10461, ex USAAF 42-72356. Converted to C-54S in 1962 and later to C-54P. To MASDC Mar 1973. to Biegert Aviation as N44911 Oct 28, 1975. To Brooks Fuel of Fairbanks, AK Sep 3, 1996. Suffered major damage May 7, 2004 when explosion took place in left wing during engine start at Ganes Creek Mine airstrip, 25 mi W of McGrath, AK. Engine 1 and outboard section of left wing separated from the rest of the wing. Crew uninjured

    March 1973

    Withdrawn from use.
    Stored at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

    28 October 1975

    To Biegert Aviation with new c/r N44911.

    28 April 1976

    Certificate of airworthiness for N44911 (C54B-DC, 10461) issued.

    October 1979


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: N44911 was another Biegert Aviation C-54 at Mesa October 1979, fitted with fuselage tank and spray bars above the wings

    7 August 1996


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: 1996 photo at Chandler Memorial AZ

    17 October 1996

    To Brooks Fuel Inc, Fairbanks, AK keeping c/r N44911.

    Based at Brooks Fuel/Don Brooks, Fairbanks, AK.
    View the Location Dossier

    21 June 1999


    Photographer: Alex Waning APVW aviation DVDs
    Notes: Fairbanks. Short before our flight to Kobuk.

    7 May 2004

    Crashed.
    The accident occurred at the Ganes Creek Airport McGrath, AK, United States while standing. The damage was substantial. The crew of the 4 engine airplane started its engines for a positioning flight from a remote mining airstrip. Following the startup of the engines, an explosion occurred in the left wing area aft of the number 1 engine firewall and number 1 auxiliary fuel tank...
    For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

    8 May 2004

    Crashed.
    Summary: The damage to the airframe was substantial. There were 29,667 hours on the airframe at the time. The cargo flight departed Ganes Creek, AK, United States of America and was destined for Fairbanks International Airport, AK (FAI/PAFA), United States of America. The accident occurred at Ganes Creek, AK (United States of America) while standing. The airframe was damaged beyond repair. Narrative: In preparation for a flight to Fairbanks, the crew successfully started engines number 4,3, and 2 in succession...
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    After 8 May 2004

    Abandoned.
    View the Location Dossier

    20 July 2017

    Civil registration, N44911, cancelled.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Aviation Safety Network
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    National Transportation Safety Board

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher

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