Beech C-23 accident near Northway, Alaska, September 15, 1983
On September 15, 1983 at about 2:51 am local time, a Beech C-23, registered N9365S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska (Northway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 15, 1983 · about 2:51 am local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · Northway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N9365S · no longer on the register · serial M-1661
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT AT 300 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT STATED THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY WITH AND WARNING AT 300 FT AGL. WITNESSES ON THE ARPT SAID THEY HEARD THE ENGINE MISFIRING AND BACKFIRING SO BADLY DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THEY WERE SURE THAT THE PLT WOULD ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION THE AUX FUEL PUMP SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ON POSITION IS REQUIRED FOR TAKEOFF ANDLANDING. FAILURE TO USE THIS PUMP AND ADJUSTMENT OF MIXTURE FOR TAKEOFF WILL RESULT IN THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY THE WITNESSES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 7,180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,085 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1983; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:12 pm from ORT, 1 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.
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.