Cessna 150 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1263Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1982 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1263Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072563
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BEFORE TAKEOFF. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION WAS IMPROVING, BUT WAS STILL MARGINAL VFR. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND PROCEEDED ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE DETERMINED THAT EITHER HIS COMPASS OR DIRECTIONAL GYRO HAD A PROBLEM SINCE THE GYRO HAD TO BE RESET CONTINUOUSLY. AS THE WEATHER DETERIORATED, THE PILOT BECAME UNCERTAIN OF HIS POSITION. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO IDENTIFY THE PLANE'S POSITION WITH THE USE OF A COAST GUARD RESCUE AIRCRAFT. WHEN HIS FUEL SUPPLY BECAME CRITICAL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE BEACH OF AN ISLAND. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE HELD THE NOSE OFF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, IT SHEARED OFF. THE NOSE GEAR FORK DUG INTO THE SOFT, WET TERRAIN AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. THE COAST GUARD LOCATED THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT AND AIRLIFTED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER TO KODIAK, AK.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 503 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 298 as pilot in command; 29 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,423 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kodiak AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.