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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 25, 1982 · Cessna 182M · N71734

Bethel, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 25, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Bethel, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 182M
Tail Number
N71734
Operator
Gerald F Dahl
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC82DAG16

THE PILOT FILED A VFR, ROUND ROBIN, FLIGHT PLAN. WHEN THE TIME ON THE FLIGHT PLAN HAD ELAPSED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. LATER, THE PLANE WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FROZEN LAKE SURROUNDED BY LOW TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PLANE HAD DISINTEGRATED DURING IMPACT. ALL OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONTAINED WITHIN AN AREA STARTING FROM THE IMPACT POINT AND EXTENDING ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE. NO PRE-CRASH COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL FAILURES WERE EVIDENT. ONE PILOT, FLYING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED A SKY CONDITION AS LOW AS 500 FT OVERCAST WITH TWO MILES VISIBILITY AND LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. ANOTHER PILOT IN THE AREA REPORTED NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT FILED A VFR, ROUND ROBIN, FLIGHT PLAN. WHEN THE TIME ON THE FLIGHT PLAN HAD ELAPSED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. LATER, THE PLANE WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FROZEN LAKE SURROUNDED BY LOW TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PLANE HAD DISINTEGRATED DURING IMPACT. ALL OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONTAINED WITHIN AN AREA STARTING FROM THE IMPACT POINT AND EXTENDING ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE. NO PRE-CRASH COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL FAILURES WERE EVIDENT. ONE PILOT, FLYING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED A SKY CONDITION AS LOW AS 500 FT OVERCAST WITH TWO MILES VISIBILITY AND LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. ANOTHER PILOT IN THE AREA REPORTED NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:15 AHST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182M
Tail NumberN71734
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGerald F Dahl
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470 · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightDaylight
Wind6° @ 11 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

External Links

Appendix: Source Data