Cessna 172 accident near Near Kotzebue, Alaska, September 29, 1982
On September 29, 1982 at about 5:08 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7650G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Kotzebue, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- September 29, 1982 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Near Kotzebue, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7650G · no longer on the register · serial 17259350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED IN THE TUNDRA FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS RETURNING FROM A SEARCH MISSION. THE LOST PERSON WAS A FRIEND OF THE PILOT OF THIS ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT. POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THIS THE PILOT SEARCHED LONGER THAN NECESSARY AND RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE WAY HOME. ALSO THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT TOPPED OFF PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE PILOT DID NOT TAKE TIME TO VISUALLY CHECK THE TANKS. A LANDING DURING THE SEARCH MISSION WAS MADE AND NO REFUELING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN 5 AND 1/2 HOURS BEFORE HEADING FOR HOME. MAXIMUM RANGE IS 6 HOURS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,844 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 420 in the last 90 days; 122 in the last 30 days; 3,637 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,501 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Baker Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Kotzebue AK at 11:24 am
- Destination: Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°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.