Bethel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Tuesady, January 5, 1982 9:39 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN A PASSENGER ARRIVED FOR A CHARTER FLIGHT, THE INTENDED AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT START. THEREFORE, CESSNA A185F, N3343S, A WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT WAS SELECTED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD ON THE PRECEEDING NIGHT. HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PREHEATED AND HAD RUN-UP THE AIRCRAFT, THEN REPLACED THE ENGINE COVER AND PLUGGED-IN THE HEATER. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE CYCLED THE PROPELLER ONCE WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS NOT YET IN THE OPERATING RANGE. AT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF -21 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, IT WOULD NOT HEAT UP AT THE LOW POWER SETTING NECESSARY FOR TAXIING. THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE PILOT REDUCED THE PROPELLER RPM. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SURGED. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE SURGE TO COLD OIL IN THE GOVERNOR SYSTEM AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION DURING THE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND STRUCK THE GROUND DURING A RECOVERY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/5/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 939
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City BETHEL
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BETHEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BET
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 940
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BET
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 466
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3343S
NTSB Number ANC82FA012
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier A185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18502277
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 2762
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NELSON ISLAND AIR SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 486
Aircraft Owner City BETHEL
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EXECUTIVE CHARTER SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 486
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99559
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BET
Departure City BETHEL
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 938
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City NAPAKIAK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --