Amateur-built DHC-3 accident near American River, Alaska, September 20, 1986
On September 20, 1986 at about 1:17 am local time, a amateur-built DHC-3, registered N83U, was substantially damaged in an accident near American River, Alaska. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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 20, 1986 · about 1:17 am local time
- Place
- American River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-3
- Registration
- N83U · registry record · serial 371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING ON A 1200 FT GRAVEL BAR, THE PLT PACED OFF THE AVAILABLE AREA, ESTIMATED THE LOAD TO PICK UP, THEN LOADED THE ACFT. DUE TO THE X-WIND, HE USED LESS THAN TAKEOFF FLAPS. HE BEGAN TAKING OFF, BUT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT 'SEEMED TO HIT A DOWNDRAFT.' THE PLT SELECTED TAKEOFF FLAPS & BEGAN A SLIGHT TURN TO GET MORE ROOM TO CLEAR A 20 FT BANK OF DIRT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE BANK. AFTER IMPACT, IT CAME TO REST ON THE TUNDRA & THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE PLANE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,240 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 9,239 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,154 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 26, 1986; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bering Air Service
The flight
- Destination: Nome AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.