Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Steven Meyer • Feb 08, 2024

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was a tragic event in aviation history that occurred on January 31, 2000. The flight was en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San Francisco, California, with a final destination of Seattle, Washington. Tragically, the McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, resulting in the loss of all 88 passengers and crew on board.

The flight encountered mechanical issues with its horizontal stabilizer, a crucial component for maintaining the aircraft's stability and control. The problem was later attributed to inadequate maintenance procedures by the airline. The horizontal stabilizer malfunction led to the loss of control of the aircraft, causing it to enter a catastrophic dive.

Efforts by the flight crew to regain control were unsuccessful, and the aircraft crashed into the ocean at high speed, disintegrating upon impact. The crash site was located near Anacapa Island, part of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a thorough investigation into the crash, uncovering deficiencies in Alaska Airlines' maintenance practices and procedures. The investigation revealed that improper lubrication of the jackscrew assembly, a critical component of the horizontal stabilizer system, led to excessive wear and eventual failure. The NTSB concluded that had proper maintenance procedures been followed, the accident could have been prevented.

The tragic loss of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 led to significant changes in airline maintenance regulations and procedures. It highlighted the importance of stringent maintenance protocols to ensure the safety of airline operations. Additionally, the crash prompted improvements in aircraft design and engineering to enhance redundancy and safety features, particularly concerning critical flight control systems.

The memory of those who perished in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 serves as a somber reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the ongoing efforts to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

Sources: FAA, Simple Flying, NTSB

Images: Simple Flying, NTSB, Flicker/Ken Fielding, Aviation Maintenance, Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, U.S. Department of Defense, Getty Images/ Mike Nelson, Getty Images/ Bryan Chan