Alaska fog-shrouded plane crash claims Air Force officer and seven others
A Cessna 441 charter crashed near Cape Newenham in Alaska, killing 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich and seven other passengers.
On Aug. 20 a chartered Cessna 441 departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for the Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site and crashed during its second landing attempt in dense fog, killing all eight occupants. Among the dead was 2nd Lt. Leah R. Borsich, a project programmer with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, lauded for her professionalism and compassion. The aircraft also carried two Army Corps of Engineers employees, four contractors—including two from Calista Brice—and the Security Aviation crew.
Col. Timothy Meerstein highlighted Borsich’s positive leadership, while Lt. Gen. Robert Davis called the loss a devastating blow to the military community. The National Transportation Safety Board and the National Weather Service are investigating the cause of the crash.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the risks of operating flights in Alaska’s harsh weather and the loss of skilled military personnel.
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