Camair Aircraft Corp. 480 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 10, 1983
On August 10, 1983 at about 9:39 pm local time, a Camair Aircraft Corp. 480, registered N231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage airport). It was a personal 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1983 · about 9:39 pm local time · cases in 1983
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Camair Aircraft Corp. 480
- Registration
- N231 · registry record · serial 1-067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABOUT 1 HR OF FLT TIME, BOTH ENGS OF THE ACFT LOST POWER AS THE PLT WAS ON A BASE LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY & THE GEAR COLLAPSED WHILE HE WAS LANDING SHORT OF THE RWY. REPORTEDLY, THE LEFT ENG HAD LOST ALL POWER, BUT THE RIGHT ENG WAS STILL AT 1500 TO 1600 RPM WHEN THE PLANE CRASHED. THE PLT SAID THAT THE MAIN FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED TO THE MAIN TANK & THE BOOST PUMPS WERE ON. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT & RIGHT TIP TANKS CONTAINED 8 & 10 GAL OF FUEL, RESPECTIVELY. WATER WAS FOUND IN FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE TIP TANKS & IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,323 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 10,496 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Observation at 4:45 pm from ANC, 5 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N231 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N231 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental O-470-D 12,781 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International · nearest airport
- Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N231 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC83FA141.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.