Cessna 180 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 30, 1983
On September 30, 1983 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N1582C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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
- September 30, 1983 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N1582C · no longer on the register · serial 30282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT 53 DEGREES F AND THE DEW POINT AT 41 DEGREES F. THE ACFT LOST POWER AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE ACFT CAME TO REST 220 FT PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. JUST BEFORE STOPPING THEACFT COLLIDED WITH A PICK-UP TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO THE ARPT ROAD. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION FOR THE POWERPLANT MALFUNCTION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 835 hours in all; 247 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 9, 1983; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z-41 Anchorage AK at 5:24 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from ANC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.