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Alaska Airlines 261

Short answer: On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 flying from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, toward San Francisco and Seattle, crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Anacapa Island, California, killing all 88 people on board.

The NTSB found the horizontal stabilizer's jackscrew assembly failed because of insufficient lubrication and excessive wear. The footage, credited to planesanity, shows a reconstruction of the flight.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Alaska Airlines 261?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. January 31, 2000.

    DD-455-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Date)

  2. MD-83.

    DD-455-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Date)

Video transcript: Alaska Airlines 261: On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Crashed off California

Did you know Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was a tragic aviation accident that occurred on January 31, 2000 when a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Anacapa Island, California resulting in fatalities for all 88 passengers and crew on board. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 17.1s Reel ·

Video coming soonAlaska Airlines 261 · Instagram Reel
Alaska Airlines 261: On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Crashed off California Instagram Reel · · 17.1s

The write-up

On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed off California. All 88 people on board were killed.

  1. Exhibit A

    Date

    January 31, 2000.

  2. Exhibit B

    Aircraft

    MD-83.

  3. Exhibit C

    Place

    Near Anacapa Island.

  4. Exhibit D

    Deaths

    All 88 aboard.

  5. Exhibit E

    Cause

    Jackscrew failure, per the NTSB.

Questions people ask about Alaska Airlines 261

When?

Winter 2000.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Date) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Aircraft?

McDonnell Douglas.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Aircraft) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Where?

California.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Place) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

How many aboard?

All killed.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Deaths) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Failed part?

Stabilizer.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Cause) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. When?

    1. January 31, 2000
    2. 2010
    3. 1990
    4. 2005
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. January 31, 2000 Winter 2000. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Date) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

  2. Aircraft?

    1. MD-83
    2. Boeing 747
    3. A320
    4. DC-3
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. MD-83 McDonnell Douglas. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Aircraft) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

  3. Where?

    1. Near Anacapa Island
    2. Alaska
    3. Hawaii
    4. Mexico City
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Near Anacapa Island California. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Place) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

  4. How many aboard?

    1. 88
    2. 200
    3. 12
    4. 300
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 88 All killed. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Deaths) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

  5. Failed part?

    1. Jackscrew
    2. Engine
    3. Landing gear
    4. Windshield
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Jackscrew Stabilizer. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Cause) · Wikipedia: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Alaska Airlines 261." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-455, last updated Jan 11, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/alaska-airlines-261/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/alaska-airlines-261/ · Last updated

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