# NTSB ANC82DAG16: Cessna 182M, N71734, Bethel, AK, January 25, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 25, 1982, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Coordinates: 60.81089, -161.849197 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8109&lon=-161.8492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DAG16
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69936/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG16

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT FILED A VFR, ROUND ROBIN, FLIGHT PLAN.  WHEN THE TIME ON THE FLIGHT PLAN HAD ELAPSED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED.  LATER, THE PLANE WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON A FROZEN LAKE SURROUNDED BY LOW TERRAIN.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PLANE HAD DISINTEGRATED DURING IMPACT.  ALL OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONTAINED WITHIN AN AREA STARTING FROM THE IMPACT POINT AND EXTENDING ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE.  NO PRE-CRASH COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FUNCTIONAL FAILURES WERE EVIDENT.  ONE PILOT, FLYING IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT, REPORTED A SKY CONDITION AS LOW AS 500 FT OVERCAST WITH TWO MILES VISIBILITY AND LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS.  ANOTHER PILOT IN THE AREA REPORTED NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71734](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71734-1982-12-21), registration cancelled 1982-12-21, S/N 18259734 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M
- Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259734
- Airframe hours: 2050
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald F. Dahl
- Registered owner: Gerald F. Dahl
- Departed: BETHEL, AK
- Destination: EEK, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 358 total, 139 in this make and model, 327 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 6° at 11 knots
- Temperature: 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820125001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820125001809A), Jan 25, 1982: Cessna 182M, Bethel, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wreckage indicates loss of control before impact. Snowshowers, whiteouts in area. VFR pilot.

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.

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