Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 accident near Selawik, Alaska, April 7, 1983
On April 7, 1983 at about 10:56 pm local time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8, registered N37MN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Selawik, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was 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
- April 7, 1983 · about 10:56 pm local time
- Place
- Selawik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 · all BN-2A-8s on the register
- Registration
- N37MN · no longer on the register · serial 558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE FAA SPECIALIST ON DUTY AT THE NOME FLIGHT SERVICE STATION THE PLT OF MUNZ NORTHERN FLT 601 REQUESTED ONLY THE AMBLER WX AT 0030 GMT. THE ONLY SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THAT THE FLT DEPTD NOME, AK AT 1330 BST AND AS THE FLT CONTINUED NORTH SHE COULD ONLY SEE STRAIGHT DOWN AND WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE THE GROUND WAS SO CLOSE. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE PROPS CHANGED THEIR SOUND WHICH RELATED TO THE SOUND THEY MADE EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT WHEN THE ACFT CLIMBED TO CLEAR A MOUNTAIN. SHE ALSO ADDED THAT THEY WERE IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS PRIOR TO IMPACT AND THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES THAT WHE WAS AWARE OF.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,054 hours in all; 1,598 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 7,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,674 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 1, 1983; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OME Nome AK at 9:38 pm
- Destination: Z60 Ambler AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.