World's Most Dangerous Airports: Adak Airport, Alaska

January 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM | by pbb | 2 Comments

We've got another airport to add to our list of the world's most dangerous airports. Adak Airport, the westernmost public airfield in the United States, makes our list, thanks to tipster Ron's awesome story:

This used to be a US Naval Air Station way the heck out 'n gone in the Aleutian Islands from about 1942 until closure in 1997. Since then, it's become a civilian-operated airport. I'm not an air operations specialist of any sort, but as a civilian contractor working for the Navy, we commuted through Adak a number of times in 1989, 1990 and 1991 on our way to Amchitka, from Anchorage.

I specifically remember bouncing into Adak virtually every time we landed or took off from there. Seems the winds were always 30+, and sometimes as high as 60 when we finally got in or out. Then there was the fog.

There were several times we stooged around over the island for hours, hoping for 1/4 mile visibility so we could land. We usually made it in about 50% of the time on flights from Anchorage. If we were lucky enough to get in and out of Adak, we made it to Amchitka less than 50% of the time. We were flying Reeve Air.

One takeoff from Adak remains firmly implanted in my memory to this day.

It was mostly clear (very unusual for ADK), cold (teens) and very, very windy. We were flying an MD-11 (I think) and buffeted into the wind on take-off. Once wheels were up, we made the usual left turn to avoid the mountain at the end of the runway. (The mountain contained numerous glints of aluminum from a multitude of crashes over the years.)
Once we were banked left, the MD-11 apparently hit a severe wind shear and plummeted straight down toward the ocean, on our left wing. I was in a left-hand window seat and all I could see was water, rushing up towards us. In the seat next to me was a guy named Ben; all 6' 6" and 300 pounds of him, who was also on his way to Amchitka.
As the plane spun down, I grabbed what I thought was the armrest as tight as I could. People were screaming, one of the flight attendants was plastered up against the ceiling, stuff was flying out of the overheads like crazy and I absolutely knew we were gonna die.
Somehow, the Reeve pilot managed to force the plane back up into a more or less stable flight environment. It took us what seemed an eternity to make the 40 minute flight to Amchitka. Once we landed there, ALL the passengers headed straight for the bar--the flight crew as well!
The next day, I ran into Big Ben in the hallway and he showed me the massive bruises on his arm. I thought he might have been hit by flying debris during our unplanned descent, but, no, he said the bruises were from me grabbing what I thought was the armrest. Now, I'm a pretty small guy compared to Ben. But, apparently, during the 3,000 foot drop towards the ocean, I put enough pressure on his arm to leave marks which lasted over a week.
As a retired Air Force guy and now with many years as a government contractor, I have over a million air miles and an appropriate number of scary flights. But, without doubt, those white-knuckled ins and outs of Adak will never be forgotten.

Have your own dangerous airport story? Do tell!

Related Stories:
· UAK: Narsarsuaq, Greenland [Jaunted]
· LUA: Lukla Airport, Nepal [Jaunted]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports coverage [Jaunted]

2 Comments

Return to » World's Most Dangerous Airports: Adak Airport, Alaska

fishmike
Jaunted Member

adak airport
i have to say i think of the adak airport as one of the safest in the aleutians.it is as amazingly wide as only a government contractor can make it with a cost overrun guarantee.as a fisherman out that way,it was the preference to dropping off injured crabbers because the medical care was top-notch for the military base and it was rare they couldn't get out compared to some of the more postage stamp sized places out in the aleutians.the ride may be rough but at least the flyboys could land.while it is true some people have been severely injured due to turbulence it was by far the best choice for folks working out there.

January 9, 2008 at 10:47 PM

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Robert Spratlin
Jaunted Member

Tour of duty in Adak
I wonderful tour of duty as a Pfc 1947-1948, feeling the wonderful breezes and the call of the key bird. I women behind every tree. I worked in the Laundry, infact I ran it due to the lack of Officers and NCO that could read and write. Fresh eggs everyday once a momth when the ship came in, Many aircraft accidents, mostly P51's. Not a bad experance for a 17 year old, only have one picture of me and friend in the doorway of a quansit hut on one of the nice days....While there the US Army Airforce went off on their own and when standing in ranks the 1st Sgt said "those who want the AF stand to the right all other remaain in place. Guess who reained in place for 20 odd years.....The biggest day was when the monthly ship came in with beer and the Supply Sgt issued each man a case for 1 dollar. Sometimes I double my money other times drink it. I lied about my age...Robert Spratlin

December 21, 2008 at 5:23 PM

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