- Date
- September 16, 1982, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kotzebue, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N345BGPiper 18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 16, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 71289
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot attempted a takeoff from a rough dirt strip approximately 1000 feet in length. The wind was blowing from the east and the takeoff was to the southwest due to the downhill slope of the runway. The aircraft lifted off at an unknown airspeed approximately 3/4 of the way down the runway. The aircraft settled back to the ground and struck trees at the end of the runway and was substantially damaged from impact with the trees. Shortly after the accident, the pilot became angry and had misgivings about rebuilding the aircraft. The pilot doused the aircraft with alcohol and set it on fire, destroying the remains.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N345BG
- Reported as
- Piper 18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 187273
- Airframe hours
- 6,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald Gallaham
- Registered owner
- Donald Gallaham
- Departed
- Kotzebue, AK
- Destination
- Kotzebue, AK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 495 total · 80 in this make and model · 430 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 122 °F