Cessna 172 accident near Near Homer, Alaska, October 23, 1982
On October 23, 1982 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6871X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Homer, Alaska (Gravel Bar airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- October 23, 1982 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Near Homer, Alaska · Gravel Bar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6871X · no longer on the register · serial 17247771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON A GRAVEL BAR. HE MADE A TOUCH-AND-GO, THEN RETURNED FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, HE DECIDED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO STOP. HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AND SAW A LOG IN THE TAKEOFF PATH. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GRAVEL BAR AND THE PILOT PULLED THE YOKE AFT TO CLEAR THE LOG. THE LANDING GEAR CLEARED, BUT THE TAIL STRUCK THE LOG. THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE NOSEWHEEL STRUCK THE GROUND HARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ABOUT FOUR TIMES, THEN ENCOUNTERED ABOUT TWO FEET OF WATER IN THE RIVER AND TURNED OVER.
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: 278 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,520 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 2:08 pm
- Destination: HOM Homer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from HOM, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.