# NTSB ANC82DAA16: Piper 18, N345BG, Kotzebue, AK, September 16, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1982, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Location: 66.8868° N, 162.4917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kotzebue, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8868&lon=-162.4917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 16, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DAA16
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAA16

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - tree(s)
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 187273
- Airframe hours: 6000
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 25; 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

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.