Jun 8, 1983. Reeve Aleution Airways Lockleed Electra out of Cold Bay experienced an odd vibration. As the crew began to trouble shoot the problem the prop and gearbox separated from the number 4 engine. The prop went to the left striking the intake for #3 then sliced through the belly of the aircraft near the leading edge of the wing. When it sliced through the fuselage it severed control cables to the elevators, rudder and throttles. The crew was able to fly using the autopilot and headed to Anchorage (about 5.5 hours away, original destination was Seattle). I was manning one of the crash trucks that day, we were alerted while the aircraft was still a couple of hours out from Anchorage. The early warning was a mixed blessing, it gave us time to prepare but it also gave time for all the suits to gather and clutter up the area.
Once over Anchorage they circles the area for a while burning off fuel. They passed over the airport at about 6000', I was looking at them with binocs and could see this huge gash across the belly.
We knew they did not have elevator, rudder or throttle control. The 3 running engines were at cruise power so they would shut down #2 to make the approach. I think they are able to use trim for limited control, must of been able to since they were using the autopilot to fly the airplane. They would not have normal brakes or nose wheel steering and would only have limited flap deployment. We expected they would probably go off the departure end of the runway,m y standby position was at the approach end and I would follow the aircraft after it passed my location.
First approach they were too fast. We were under the impression they would not be able to go around so as I was chasing him down the runway seeing he wasn't getting it on the ground I was fearing for the worst. It was a joyous sight to see the gear start going back up and the aircraft starting a gentle climb. As they did a pattern we repositioned the trucks and got the word next pass would be a landing.
The landing pass they went by me still a bit fast but were able to touchdown at about the mid point of the 10,600' runway. They used an emergency braking system which locked the main wheels causing them to catch fire. As the airplane slowed and they lost direction control it veered left went off the left edge of the runway, the dirt kicking up pretty much put the wheel fires out. At the last moment the airplane veered sharp left and the nose wheel dropped into a ditch but the aircraft came to a safe stop. Crash trucks swarmed the aircraft, foam was layer to protect and the passengers and crew evacuated.
This is a link to a video taken by one of the firefighters.
You can see damage to intake of #3
Notice how the floor sags to the center. They said they could see the fuselage flexing while inflight.
Looking inboard from outside the #4 nacelle. You can see damage to intake of #3 and the gash through the fuselage.
