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Accidents · NTSB ANC84LA143 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 180 accident near Burgress Strip, Alaska, August 13, 1984

On August 13, 1984 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3241D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burgress Strip, Alaska (Burgess Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 13, 1984 · about 5:30 pm local time
Place
Burgress Strip, Alaska · Burgess Strip
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
Registration
N3241D · registry record · serial 32039
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON AN AIRSTRIP, IT STALLED. DURING IMPACT, THE GEAR BOX, RIGHT WING TIP, PROP, ENG MOUNTS, ENG COWLING & RIGHT ELEVATOR WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT RECOMMENDED RECEIVING TRAINING BEFORE ATTEMPTING OFF ARPT OPERATIONS OR MOUNTAIN FLYING. ALSO, HE RECOMMENDED BEING AWARE OF OPTICAL ILLUSIONS BEFORE TRYING TO LAND ON SIDE-HILL STRIPS.

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: 170 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 17 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1983; 17 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Brady Skyranch AK
  • Flight plan: not recorded
  • Runway 35, 1,000 ft by 40 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 60 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers2

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.