Beech C45H accident near Near Deering, Alaska, September 27, 1982
On September 27, 1982 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Beech C45H, registered N3120G, was involved in an accident near Near Deering, Alaska. It was a business 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
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
- September 27, 1982 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Near Deering, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C45H · all C45Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3120G · no longer on the register · serial AF-825
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT SLID WHEELS UP INTO A LAKE DURING A ONE-ENGINE FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT SANK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED BUT ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO REACH SHORE UNINJURED. THE PILOT SAID THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER DURING CRUISE AND HE ELECTED TO SHUT IT DOWN. DURING THE SHUT-DOWN HE FAILED TO ADD POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE IN TIME TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. BY THE TIME HE ADDED POWER THE AIRSPEED WAS BELOW 100 KNOTS AND THE ALTITUDE LESS THAN 800 AGL. THE PILOT COMMITTED HIMSELF TO A LANDING IN THE TUNDRA WHEELS UP AND SLID INTO THE LAKE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,300 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 154 in the last 90 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,000 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AI Nome AK at 2:12 pm
- Destination: C Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 122°F (50°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.