Cessna 152II accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 25, 1982
On January 25, 1982 at about 5:13 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N4825B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Sky Harbor/O'Malley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 25, 1982 · about 5:13 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Sky Harbor/O'Malley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
- Registration
- N4825B · no longer on the register · serial 15283658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DESCENDING TO ABOUT 3000 FT THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING. SINCE THE FUEL GAGES READ EMPTY HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING AT SKY HARBOR/O'MALLEY AIRSTRIP BUT CAME IN HIGH ON THE INITIAL APPROACH. AS HE MANEUVERED FOR ANOTHER APPROACH HE ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DIMINISH AND THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED SOME TREES. THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED OVER ON ITS NOSE CAUSING IT TO STRIKE THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENTERED 4 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES OF FUEL ON BOARD ON HIS FLIGHT PLAN AND THAT HE THOUGHT THIS TO BE A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED 1 HOUR AND 22 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING HOMER, AK. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE AND THAT THE TANKS WERE NOT QUITE FULL. HE VERIFIED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN SINCE REFUELING BUT DID NOT OBTAIN THE CORRECT TOTAL FLIGHT TIME SINCE REFUELING.
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: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 908 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fort Richardson Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 11:51 am
- Destination: FRN Ft. Richardson AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 1,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.