509

N971MM at Lake Hood.

Photo: Ben Cogger © 13 October 2016

N971MM in a tranquil setting.

Photo: Ron McMillen © 16 August 2003 - Bristol Bay Lodge

N9971Z between careers at Kenmore Air Harbor.

Photo: Unknown photographer © c.1990 - 1992 - Aird Archives

N9971Z parked at Seattle's Boeing Field, WA.

Photo: Kenneth I. Swartz © 17 July 1976

N9971Z of Alaska South Coast at KBFI.

Photo: J. A. Morrow © May 1976 - Aird Archives

52-6124 at Sixmile Lake, next to Elmendorf AFB.

Photo: Norm Taylor © Date unknown - Dave Stern Collection

509

52-6124 • N9971Z

N971MM

• 52-6124 USAF #1286 L-20 No: 287 Command AF-3. Delivered 16-Jun-1953. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.

• 52-6124 Struck off charge from USAF inventory on 03-Jun-1967 possibly after a crash

• N9971Z H. J. Hansen Ltd. Regd May-1972. Re registered Jun-1972.

• N9971Z Alaska South Coast Airlines, AK. Believed Bettles, AK. Circa 1976.

• N9971Z Frontier Flying Services Inc., Fairbanks, AK. Circa 1978.

Accident: Near Anaktuvak Pass, Alaska. 22 Jul 1978. Float equipped aircraft stalled whilst circling to land when pilot’s attention directed from proper operation of aircraft. Aircraft substantially damaged; pilot and five passengers uninjured, one seriously injured. ANC78FA058

• N9971Z Kenmore Air Harbor Inc., Kenmore, WA. Regd 05-Sep-1979. On USCAR at 03-Mar-1990 & 29-Feb-1992.

• N971MM Kenmore Air Harbor Inc., Kenmore, WA. Regd May-1993. On USCAR at 01-Oct-1994.

• N971MM Bristol Bay Lodge Inc., Dillingham, AK. Regd date unknown.

• N971MM Ronald R. McMillan, Anchorage, AK. Regd 19-Jul-1993. Canx 06-Jul-2004.

• N971MM Bristol Bay Lodge Inc., Wexford, PA, Based Dillingham, AK. Regd 08-Jul-2004. Canx 09-Nov-2007.

Airworthiness Date: 30-Mar-2005. Standard – Restricted / Other

• N971MM LDC Bristol Bay Lodge LLC., King of Prussia, PA. Based Dillingham, AK. Regd 13-Nov-2007. Canx 30-Dec-2011.

• N971MM Bristol Bay Aircraft LLC., c/o Lehman Bros, Holdings, Inc., New York. Regd 04-Jan-2012.

• N971MM D & B Aircraft Leasing LLC., Anchorage, AK. Regd 04-Dec-2013.

• Current •

USAF History

52-6124 was made available to the AMO (Air Material Overseas) unit of the USAF at Downsview, ON., 22-May-1953 and accepted on 03-Jun-1953 initially being delivered to the Tactical Air Command and the 7^th Liaison Squadron at Greenville / Donaldson AFB., SC., on 16-Jun-1953, but it only remained for ten days before moving to the Military Air Transport Command at Andrews AFB., MD., and the 1401^st Air Base Wing. In January 1954 it returned to Donaldson and the 7^th Liaison Squadron. It remained with this unit until 22-May-1954 when it moved across to the 63^rd Troop Carrier Group remaining until 06-Sep-1955.

After a short period of maintenance at Birmingham, AL., the aircraft returned to the 63^rd Troop Carrier wing where it stayed until 19-Dec-1956. A short stay with the 2750^th Air Base Wing at Wright Patterson, OH., up to 14-Jan-1957 followed.

A change of scenery now saw the aircraft moving to Alaska and to the Alaska Air Command at Elmendorf AFB initially with the 5039^th Air Base Wing and then with the 5040th Operations Squadron, the 5040^th Consolidated Maintenance Group, the 5040^th Operations flight, the 5006^th Air Transport Squadron and then the again the 5040^th Consolidated Maintenance Group on 01-Apr-1961. The remaining Air Force history of this aircraft is yet to be researched however it was reportedly struck off charge from USAF inventory on 03-Jun-1967 possibly after a crash.