This aircraft was built for Det Norske Luftfartsselskap A/S - June 24, 1946

Entered onto the Norwegian Aircraft Register as LN-IAE - ?

Transferred to S.A.S. - August 01, 1948

The aircraft was named 'Olav Viking'

Sold to Japan Air Lines - October 27, 1956

Entered onto the Japanese Aircraft Register as JA-6012 - ?

The aircraft was named 'Mikasa'

It was leased to Korean Air Lines - October 29, 1962 to 1963

Entered onto the Korean Aircraft Register as HL-4003 - October 1962

Sold to Ansett-A.N.A. - August 1963

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INK - February 21, 1964

Registered to Ansett-ANA, Melbourne

Overhauled and converted to freighter configuration at Hong Kong by HAECO prior to acceptance - February 1964

Handed over to Ansett-ANA at Hong Kong following the acceptance flight - April 21, 1964

Departed Hong Kong in standard Ansett-ANA livery on the ferry flight to Australia - April 21, 1964

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - April 22, 1964

Ferry route: Hong Kong - Manila - Jeselton (Kota Kinabalu) - Darwin - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains J. Adams, S. Telford; F/Os Johnston, C. Musche; Navigator W. C. Kennedy; Engineer R. Searle

The Australian Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued - April 27, 1964

It operated its first revenue service as a freighter - April 1964

Withdrawn from use for conversion by Aviation Traders to an ATL-98A Carvair freighter - 1965

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to the United Kingdom - June 20, 1965

It arrived at Southend on completion of the ferry flight - June 25, 1965

Flight crew: Captains S. Hayward, B. Brett, J. Blair; Navigator E. W. Adams; Engineer B. Butterfield

Ferry route: Melbourne - Perth - Cocos Islands - Colombo - Karachi - Cairo - Rome - Southend

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 19, 1965

Re-flown as an ATL-98 Carvair - October 27, 1965

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INK - October 28, 1965

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Departed Southend on the ferry flight to Australia - November 04, 1965

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - November 10, 1965

Ferry route: Southend - Athens - Damascus - Bahrain - Karachi - Colombo - Cocos Islands - Perth - Melbourne

Known flight crew: Captain S. Hayward; Navigator E. W. Adams

Ansett-ANA was renamed Ansett Airlines of Australia - December 01, 1968

Rolled out in the Ansett Airlines of Australia Air Cago 'delta' livery at Melbourne (Essendon) - September 12, 1969

Registered to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd - November 25, 1969

It operated its final revenue service - March 09, 1973

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Tullamarine) awaiting sale

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd t/a Air Australia (Singapore) Pte Ltd - January 01, 1974

The Ansett titles were removed and 'A.A.S.' titles applied behind cockpit window - February 1974

Aircraft was now named 'Kasby 1'

Intended sale to Seulawah-Mandala Air Services, Jakarta collapsed when financing failed to materialise - February 1974

New lease / sale agreement negotiated with Seulawah Mandala Air Services, Jakarta - January 1975

Financing delays held up the return of this aircraft to flying condition

'Seulawah Air' titles added the the aircraft but the 'A.A.S.' titles remained behind the cockpit window - April 1975

Test flown Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Broken Hill - Melbourne (Tullamarine) - July 03, 1975

New sale / lease agreement with PT Seulawah Air Services, Jakarta finalised - July 16, 1975

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on the ferry flight to Singapore (Seletar) - July 17, 1975

Flight crew: Captain J. Presgrave (A.A.S.)

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 25, 1975

The lease to Seulawah collapsed and ownership reverted to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd - December 1975

The aircraft was clandestinely ferried Jakarta - Singapore by A.A.S. crew - January 1976

This flight was unauthorised as the aircraft was unregistered and there was little chance of the Australian registration

and certification being restored whilst the aircraft was located outside Australia

This action was taken as A.A.S. were worried that the aircraft would be impounded by the Indonesian Government

Stored at Singapore (Seletar) - January 16, 1976

Offered for immediate sale by Dwen Airmotive, Auckland, New Zealand - October 1976

It was observed stored at Singapore (Seletar) in good condition - December 1976

Discussions were held with Air Express, Brisbane, Queensland on a possible sale - 1977

Advertised for immediate sale by Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd - August 1977

The New Zealand company Car Haulaways Ltd initiated a sale enquiry via Dennis Thompson Ltd - January 1978

A direct sale counld not be effected as the aircraft was not registered in any country

If registered in New Zealand it would be 'first-of-type' on the New Zealand Aircraft Register

It would require a new Type Certification

A.A.S. instructs Singapore General Aviation Services Pte Ltd (SINGAS) to register the aircraft - January 1978

The only way to achieve New Zealand Certification is to firstly have the aircraft registered in the United States

The certification was handled by the F.A.A. office in Honolulu

A 'Bill of Sale' from Air Australia (Singapore) Pte Ltd to James A. Cunningham, c/- American Aircraft Sales,

Bethesda, Maryland is issued - March 17, 1978

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N54598 - March 30, 1978

Registered to James A. Cunningham, Bethesda, Maryland

(James A. Cunningham was the A.A.S. Vice President in charge of the A.A.S. Washington, D.C. office)

An application was filed with the F.A.A. to issue an 'Export CofA' for N54598 - May 25, 1978

F.A.A. issues the Export CofA and ferry permit from Singapore - New Zealand

Leased to Nationwide Air, New Zealand - August 1978

It was intended that Nationwide Air would operate a car ferry service from Wellington to Christchurch and Nelson

Nationwide Air Chief Pilot Captain R. Gilbert was sent to Singapore to conduct test flights - August 1978

Registered to L. Leonard Lundy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - September 29, 1978

This transfer to Lundy, an attorney, was to placate F.A.A. concerns that the current U. S. owner was a dealer

Ferried Brisbane - Auckland - September 17, 1978

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-NWA - November 07, 1978

Registered to Nationwide Air, Wellington

Nationwide Air ceased trading due to bankruptcy - July 16, 1979

It cited a number of factors including the artificial shortage of avgas caused by government interference

Sold to James Air Limited, Hamilton - October 1979

It was purchased from the Receivers for a low price as a speculative transaction for later resale

Sold to Turner Aviation Ltd, Honolulu - December 21, 1982

James W. Turner became involved in the founding of Pacific Aerolift Cargo

The United States registration 'N406JT' was reserved - December 1982

Pacific Aerospace was contracted to overhaul the aircraft and repaint it in standard 'Pacific Aerolift' livery - 1983

The aircraft was to be named 'Ruth 1'

It was ferried Nelson - Hamilton with the undercarriage extended

An inspection uncovered severe corrosion throughout the airframe

The aircraft was recorded to have flown 53,613 hours to date

Test flown at Hamilton - August 1983

With Pacific Aerolift in serious financial difficulty the delivery of this aircraft was delayed - November 1983

Pacific Aerolift collapsed before commercial operations had commenced

The aircraft was placed in open storage at Hamilton Airport and over the next six years accumulated much dirt

A plan by Gold Crown Aviation to operate this aircraft on freight services to Tasmania was explored - 1986

The Civil Aviation Authority required extensive information before it would grant an operating certificate

Over time with this information not forthcoming and the plan lapsed

Sold to Hawaii Pacific Air Inc - February 08, 1990

Departed Auckland on the ferry flight to Honolulu - May 19, 1990

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - June 18, 1990

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N5459X - June 25, 1990

Registered to Air Cargo Hawaii Ltd t/a Hawaii Pacific Air Inc, Hawaii

It was observed parked at Honolulu Airport in 'Hawaii Pacific Air' livery as 'ZK-NWB' - November 1990

It was observed parked at Honolulu Airport in good condition - September 1991

Registered to Air Cargo Hawaii, Honolulu - January 23, 1992

Hawaii Pacific Air Inc ceased operations due to financial difficulties - January 1993

It was placed in open storage on the Lagoon Drive ramp area at Honolulu Airport

Registered to Roberts Hawaii Inc., Miami, Florida - September 13, 1993

It was observed in open storage at Honolulu Airport - June 1995

Registered to Airline Marketing Consultants Inc, Miami, Florida - July 29, 1996

The aircraft was purchased on behalf of Aircraft Traders Belgium

It was intended to use the aircraft on relief supply contracts in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A lease / sale agreement was negotiated with Avia Air Charter, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 1996

Maintenance work was carried out by Roberts Hawaii at Honolulu

Ferried Honolulu - Griffin, Georgia (Captain B. McSwiggan) of Custom Air Services - November 1996

An engine failed on take-off from Melbourne, Florida whilst aircraft was bound for Puerto Rico

It made a three-engined landing at Lakeland, Florida where it was decided not to install the spare engine

The lease / sale agreement was renegotiated with Avia Air Charter to exchange this aircraft for 'N5459M'

The aircraft remained grounded at Lakeland, Florida due to the failed engine

Sold to Hawkair Aviation Services Ltd, Terrace, British Columbia, Canada - April 1997

Ferried Lakeland (Florida) - Griffin, Texas for overhaul and Canadian certification - April 1997

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - April 14, 1997

Maintenance work was carried out under close surveillance of F.A.A. and Transport Canada inspectors

Entered onto the Canadian Aircraft Register as C-GAAH - May 05, 1997

Registered to Hawkair Aviation Services Ltd, Terrace, BC

The aircraft was returned to an airworthy condition and signed off by the F.A.A. at Griffin - May 25, 1997

Ferried Griffin (Georgia) - Vancouver in 15 hours flying time - June 02, 1997

Canadian Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued - June 05, 1997

The aircraft commenced shuttle services to the Bronson Creek Mine - June 1997

It suffered damage on landing at Wrangell, Alaska with a retracted nose gear - June 30, 1997

Repaired and returned to service

Underwent extensive modifications to strengthen the cabin floor to handle the heavy freight pallets

This enabled it to carry drums of diesel fuel to the gold mine and backload the gold ore concentrate

This involved replacing the original Ansett 'Rolamat' floor system with C-54 cargo floor system

As the Ansett conversion was performed on a DC-4-1009 it was found that the C-54 system did not line up

with the usual floor attachment points resulting in major engineering problems

It was withdrawn from use and stored at Terrace, B.C. following the closure of the Bronson Creek Mine - June 1999

Involved in a one-off charter flight to collect 300 reindeer from Umnak, Aleutian Islands - September 21, 1999

The reindeer were contained in seven wooden pens inside the aircraft and delivered to Red Deer, Alberta

It is reported that it took two weeks to clean out the interior of the aircraft

Stored at Terrace, BC and advertised for immediate sale with extensive spares holdings - November 1999

Sold to Brooks Fuel Inc and rebuilt to an airworth condition

Ferried Terrace - Fairbanks (Alaska) - December 2002

Cancelled from Canadian Aircraft Register - December 27, 2002

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N898AT - March 04, 2003

Registered to Brooks Fuel Inc, Fairbanks, Alaska

It was to be used under FAR91 for contract fuel delivery within Alaska

Parked at Fairbanks for use as a spare aircraft

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) renewed - August 12, 2004

During overhaul it was repainted white with a blue fuselage cheatline and 'Carvair' to top of tail

Entered service hauling bulk fuel loads within Alaska - July 2005

Test flown at Fairbanks (Captain R. Brooks) - May 29, 2007

This was its first flight since having been placed in winter storage in November 2006

The aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at Nixon Fork Mine, McGrath, Alaska - May 30, 2007

It was landing with a tail-wind when it was caught in a down draught

The right main landing gear clipped the end of the runway sending the aircraft into a wild slide

The aircraft's cargo of 3,000 US gallons of fuel in rubber bladders remained intact

Captain Roger Brooks and F/O Jonathon Hathaway survived the accident but aircraft was written-off

United States registration expired - March 31, 2011