Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

May 16, 1982 · De Havilland DHC-6-200 · N103AQ

Hooper Bay, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 16, 1982
Injury Outcomes
8 injuries (8 serious injuries)
Location
Hooper Bay, AK
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6-200
Tail Number
N103AQ
Operator
Gifford Aviation
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA82AA022

AT 0833 ADT, THE ACFT DEPARTED BETHEL, AK ON A SCHEDULED PAX/CARGO COMMUTER FLT TO CHEVAK, SCAMMON BAY & HOOPER BAY, AK. THE OPERATOR'S COMMUTER FLTS HAD NOT LANDED AT SCAMMON BAY FOR SVRL DAYS SINCE THE RWY WAS SOFT & MUDDY FROM MELTINGSNOW. BFR DEPARTING CHEVAK, 902 LBS OF MAIL & BAGGAGE WAS PLACED IN THE AFT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, 2 PAX'S WERE ASKED TO SIT IN THE MOST AFT SEATS "TO LIGHTEN THE NOSE." AT SCAMMON BAY, THE UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE FROM A SHALLOW APCH WITH HI PWR. AFTER LANDING, 278 LBS OF MAIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE NOSE COMPARTMENT, LEAVING IT EMPTY, & 191 LBS OF CARGO WAS REMOVED FROM THE CABIN. THIS WAS DONE WITH 1 ENG RUNNING, NO OTR LOAD CHGS WERE MADE BFR TKOF. THE PAX RPRTD THAT DRG APCH TO HOOPER BAY, THE PWR WAS REDUCED ON A SOMEWHAT STEEPER APCH & THE SQUARE (FLAP) HNDL WAS MVD. THEY RPRTDTHAT SOON THEREAFTER, THE NOSE PITCHED UP & STALL WRNG SOUNDED. THE PLANE CRASHED APRX 1320 FT SHORT OF RWY 13. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CG WAS APRX 7.7% BHND THE MAX AFT LMT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.

Full Narrative

AT 0833 ADT, THE ACFT DEPARTED BETHEL, AK ON A SCHEDULED PAX/CARGO COMMUTER FLT TO CHEVAK, SCAMMON BAY & HOOPER BAY, AK. THE OPERATOR'S COMMUTER FLTS HAD NOT LANDED AT SCAMMON BAY FOR SVRL DAYS SINCE THE RWY WAS SOFT & MUDDY FROM MELTINGSNOW. BFR DEPARTING CHEVAK, 902 LBS OF MAIL & BAGGAGE WAS PLACED IN THE AFT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, 2 PAX'S WERE ASKED TO SIT IN THE MOST AFT SEATS "TO LIGHTEN THE NOSE." AT SCAMMON BAY, THE UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE FROM A SHALLOW APCH WITH HI PWR. AFTER LANDING, 278 LBS OF MAIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE NOSE COMPARTMENT, LEAVING IT EMPTY, & 191 LBS OF CARGO WAS REMOVED FROM THE CABIN. THIS WAS DONE WITH 1 ENG RUNNING, NO OTR LOAD CHGS WERE MADE BFR TKOF. THE PAX RPRTD THAT DRG APCH TO HOOPER BAY, THE PWR WAS REDUCED ON A SOMEWHAT STEEPER APCH & THE SQUARE (FLAP) HNDL WAS MVD. THEY RPRTDTHAT SOON THEREAFTER, THE NOSE PITCHED UP & STALL WRNG SOUNDED. THE PLANE CRASHED APRX 1320 FT SHORT OF RWY 13. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CG WAS APRX 7.7% BHND THE MAX AFT LMT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:15 AHDT
Nearest AirportHooper Bay (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length3600 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-6-200
Tail NumberN103AQ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGifford Aviation
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP & W · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 500
Seats16

People & Injuries

Injury Summary8 injuries (8 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious8
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total8
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 20 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data