Cessna 140 accident near Near Palmer, Alaska, December 21, 1982
On December 21, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N4269N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- December 21, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Near Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N4269N · registry record · serial 13740
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A FROZEN LAKE, THE PILOT TURNED LEFT TO PARALLEL A FOG BANK OVER THE KNIK RIVER. HE STATED THAT WHILE CLIMBING, THE ENGINE DID NOT QUIT, BUT THE PROPELLER LOST THRUST, AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ROLL CONTROL, SOME RUDDER CONTROL, BUT HARDLY ANY ELEVATOR CONTROL. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A 15 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WHILE INDICATING 60 MPH. ALL OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Palmer AK
- Destination: C Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.