Cessna 180C accident near Latouche Island, Alaska, May 15, 1982
On May 15, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180C, registered N9366T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Latouche Island, Alaska (Gravel Strip 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
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 15, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Latouche Island, Alaska · Gravel Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180C · all 180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9366T · no longer on the register · serial 50866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED FROM A DRY GRAVEL STRIP IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ROLLED OVER A 2 X 12 INCH BOARD THAT FLIPPED UP AND STRUCK THE RIGHT ELEVATOR. REPORTEDLY, A PART OF THE ELEVATOR SEPARATED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE BEACH ABOUT 150 FT FROM THE END OF THE STRIP, THEN WENT OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE BOARD WAS COVERED WITH A THIN LAYER OF SAND AND WAS NOT VISIBLE.
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
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 667 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,810 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Latouche Island AK at 7:29 am
- Destination: Lake Hood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 113°F (45°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.