Cessna 182R accident near Minto, Alaska, March 17, 2023
On March 17, 2023, a 1983 Cessna 182R, registered N6266E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Minto, Alaska (Al Wright Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2023 · cases in 2023
- Place
- Minto, Alaska · Al Wright Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R, built 1983 · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6266E · registry record · serial 18268355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the local flight the engine lost partial power. He applied the carburetor heat and the engine power was restored. The pilot left the carburetor heat on for the remainder of the flight. While on final approach to land, the engine lost total power. The airplane landed short of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was started and ran normally during the postaccident examination. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing
- Unknown or undetermined during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,678 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,678 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,516 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 4,483 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol INC
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 11:12 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point -9°F (-23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PAFA, 43 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAFA 170053Z 20007KT 10SM FEW110 SCT200 M14/M23 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP091 T11441233
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 –Right front view of accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 2 – Left front view of accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 3 – Right rear view of accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 4 – Left rear view of accident airplane at accident site. Photo
Photo 5 – Damage to engine mount on accident airplane. PhotoThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on July 24, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Carburetor Icing Chart Saib CE-09-35 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6266E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES 12,779 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Minto AL Wright Airport · nearest airport
- Fairbanks International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 826 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,143 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC23LA027.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.