Cessna 172 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 25, 1983
On August 25, 1983 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N734QV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 25, 1983 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N734QV · registry record · serial 17269089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT LANDED ON A GRAVEL STRIP WITH A LEFT X-WIND AT 10 GUSTING 20 KTS. REPORTEDLY, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND DURING THE LANDING & LOST CONTROL WHEN THE LEFT WHEEL WENT INTO SOFT GRAVEL ON THE BANK OF THE STRIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OVER ON ITS TOP.
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: 148 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,299 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKA Talachulitna AK at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.