Curtiss C-46A accident near Bettles, Alaska, July 10, 1983
On July 10, 1983 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Curtiss C-46A, registered N92853, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bettles, Alaska (Tobin Creek airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F). 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
- July 10, 1983 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Bettles, Alaska · Tobin Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss C-46A
- Registration
- N92853 · registry record · serial 30565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91, subpart F)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT ROLLED OVER A FROST HEAVE ON THE RWY SURFACE AND BEGAN VEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT APPLIED LEFT BRAKE AND ADDED PWR TO THE RIGHT ENG BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED GOING RIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A HILL ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A DITCH 110 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT OF THE LNDG RWY HEADING. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT MAIN LNDG GEAR TIRE REVEALED A LARGE JAGGED OPENING IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH EXTENDED INTO THE TREAD AREA OF THE TIRE. THIS OPENING MATCHED ONE OF THE SIDES OF A ROCK FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE FROST HEAVE. THE ACFT MAINTENANCE LOGBOOKS WERE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO HAVE NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 18,010 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 18,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,925 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 22, 1983; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 48,000 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-28005-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nenana Fuel CO.
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 3:40 pm
- Destination: Tobin Creek AK
- Runway 34, 4,500 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.