Cessna 150M accident near Chugiak, Alaska, March 3, 1983
On March 3, 1983 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704VT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was an instructional 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
- March 3, 1983 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704VT · registry record · serial 15078914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT & HIS INSTRUCTOR HAD JUST COMPLETED A DUAL INSTRUCTION FLT & THE STUDENT WAS ON HIS 1ST SOLO. HE TOOK OFF FROM THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT WHICH HAD SNOW ON THE RWY, EXCEPT THE MIDDLE 10 FT OF THE RWY WAS CLEAR & DRY. AS THE STUDENT WAS IN THE PATTERN FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, A TAYLORCRAFT HAD STOPPED ON THE RWY & ITS ENG HAD STOPPED. ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE TAYLORCRAFT GOT OUT OF THE COCKPIT & PROP STARTED IT. IN THE MEANTIME, 2 OTHER ACFT IN THE PATTERN, THAT WERE AHEAD OF THE STUDENT, MADE GO-AROUNDS. THE STUDENT PLT DID NOT SEE THE TAYLORCRAFT ON THE RWY UNTIL HE HAD LANDED & HAD STARTED TO TAKEOFF ON THE TOUCH-AND-GO. WHEN HE SAW THE OTHER ACFT, THE STUDENT CUT THE POWER TO ABORT & BEGAN BRAKING. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, HIT A SNOWBANK & NOSED 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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,478 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANC Anchorage AK at 5:20 pm
- Runway 1, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
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.