Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Friday, August 26, 1983 19:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT APRX 1900 ADT, THE PLT & 2 PASSENGERS DEPARTED NORTH POLE, AK ON A FLT TO PORTAGE CREEK STRIP. DURING THE FLT, HE CONTACTED FLT SERVICE TO OBTAIN WX INFORMATION. HE ASKED FOR & WAS PROVIDED THE WX AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. ALSO, HE STATED THAT HE WAS REALLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE WX WAS LIKE IN 'THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ALASKA RANGE DOWN TOWARD DELTA.' HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO REPORT FOR THAT AREA. AT APRX 1945 ADT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN RIDGE. REPORTEDLY, IT STRUCK THE MOUNTAIN AT APRX 4050 FT MSL WHILE IN LEVEL FLT. THE TOP OF THE RIDGE WAS ABOUT 4090 FT MSL. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL WAS FOUND. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE FOUND TWISTED & BENT & THE PROPELLER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT DURING IMPACT. THE 2000 ADT WX AT FAIRBANKS, AK (54 MI SOUTHWEST OF THE CRASH SITE) WAS 1000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 30 MI, WIND FROM 240 AT 7 KTS, TEMP 51, DEW POINT 47. THE ELEVATION OF THAT REPORTING POINT WAS 434 FT MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone --
Event City FAIRBANKS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99701
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2000 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 132
Weather Observation Facility ID FAI
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 54
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1009
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21317
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2145Z
NTSB Number ANC83FA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 18051245
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1435
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEPHEN F. WUKSINICH
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 55439
Aircraft Owner City NORTH POLE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NORTH POLE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City PORTAGE CREEK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --