Amateur-built VOLMER VJ-22 accident near North Pole, Alaska, August 13, 1983
On August 13, 1983 at about 10:35 pm local time, a amateur-built VOLMER VJ-22, registered N830PM, was destroyed in an accident near North Pole, Alaska (Bradley Sky Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- August 13, 1983 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Bradley Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VOLMER VJ-22 VOLMER VJ-
- Registration
- N830PM · no longer on the register · serial 188
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING THE ARPT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND HE TURNED TOWARD AN OPEN FIELD AS HE DID NOT BELIEVE THEY COULD MAKE THE RWY. HE REMEMBERS THE ACFT STALLING AND SPINNING. THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN AREA OF SCRUB TREES AND BRUSH ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE ARPT. THE PILOT REMEMBERED THE ENGINE QUITTING AND NOTED THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND FUEL PRESSURE WAS DOWN. THE WIFE REMEMBERED THE ENGINE SOUNDED FUNNY. WHEN SHE ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG HER HUSBAND SAID 'WEARE OUT OF FUEL-BUT WE CAN'T BE.' THE PILOT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN AND THEN STALLED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THE ACFT HAD MARGINAL CONTROL, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE YAW AXIS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 481 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tanana AK
- Destination: 95Z North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FAI, 10 miles away
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.