Cessna A185F accident near Bethel, Alaska, January 5, 1982
On January 5, 1982 at about 1:39 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N3343S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 5, 1982 · about 1:39 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3343S · no longer on the register · serial 18502277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN A PASSENGER ARRIVED FOR A CHARTER FLIGHT, THE INTENDED AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT START. THEREFORE, CESSNA A185F, N3343S, A WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT WAS SELECTED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD ON THE PRECEEDING NIGHT. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PREHEATED AND HAD RUN-UP THE AIRCRAFT, THEN REPLACED THE ENGINE COVER AND PLUGGED-IN THE HEATER. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE CYCLED THE PROPELLER ONCE WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS NOT YET IN THE OPERATING RANGE. AT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF -21 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, IT WOULD NOT HEAT UP AT THE LOW POWER SETTING NECESSARY FOR TAXIING. THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE PILOT REDUCED THE PROPELLER RPM. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SURGED. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE SURGE TO COLD OIL IN THE GOVERNOR SYSTEM AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION DURING THE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND DURING A RECOVERY.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 1,105 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,705 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,762 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D24 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BET Bethel AK at 9:38 am
- Destination: Napakiak AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: -6°F (-21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 am from BET
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.