Cessna 182B accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, March 18, 2010
On March 18, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182B, registered N2266G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Port Alsworth, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to enter adverse weather conditions, resulting in a loss of visibility and collision with terrain during a turn to reverse direction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182B · all 182Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2266G · no longer on the register · serial 51566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane was the second of two airplanes, traveling as a flight of two, en route to a remote wilderness lodge in an area of mountainous terrain. The accident pilot stated that as the flight entered a mountain pass, the two airplanes became separated due to heavy snow showers. He said that visibility deteriorated to a point that it was difficult to discern topographical features while in the pass, and he elected to turn around. The pilot reported that during a descending left turn the airplane collided with an area of snow-covered up-sloping terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the airplane was recently equipped with a 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter, which aided rescue crews in finding the accident site quickly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of visual reference during maneuvering
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,597 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 2010; 5 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PASX Soldotna AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PALJ Port Alsworth AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.