Cessna 170B accident near Elim, Alaska, November 17, 1982
On November 17, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2780D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elim, Alaska (Elim airport). It was a business 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elim, Alaska · Elim · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2780D · registry record · serial 25322
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE RWY ABOUT MIDFIELD, CLIMBED TO ABOUT 30-50 FT AGL & THEN BEGAN A DIVE. THE WITNESS HEARD NO CHANGE IN ENG SOUND. THE ACFT'S WING FIRST STRUCK A BOX SET ON TOP OF OTHER EQUIPMENT ON THE GROUND(ABOUT 4 FT 6 IN HIGH), STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD ON A SNOWMOBILE & THEN STRUCK THE VICTIM WHO WAS THROWN 15-20 FT. THE WITNESS STATED HE HAD TO DIVE TO THE GROUND TO ESCAPE INJURY. HE ALSO STATED HE HAD OBSERVED THE PLT'S ACFT DIVE AT PEOPLE ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION. THE PLT STATED HE WAS PRACTICING A FORCED LANDING.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,100 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 248 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELI Elim AK at 11:30 am
- Destination: C Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,975 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC83LA015.