Piper J3 accident near Near Nome, Alaska, September 22, 1982
On September 22, 1982 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper J3, registered N3257N, was destroyed in an accident near Near Nome, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 22, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Nome, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3 · all J3s on the register
- Registration
- N3257N · registry record · serial 22447
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING HOME FROM A HUNTING TRIP. THE WEATHER WAS LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY WAS MARGINAL IN SOME OF THE VALLEYS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT THE 1300 FOOT LEVEL ON A 30 DEGREE INCLINE OF A ROCKY SLOPE. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACKFOUR FEET ON IMPACT AND BURNED. THE 1157 BDT WEATHER AT NOME WAS REPORTED AS 500 FT SCATTERED, 1200 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 6 MILES WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Igloo AK at 11:30 am
- Destination: Nome AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.