# NTSB ANC83LA065: Cessna 180, N2345C, Palmer, AK, April 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 2, 1983, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.619674, -148.98088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6197&lon=-148.9809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4111/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA065

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S ACCIDENT REPORT, HE HAD CLIMBED TO 3200 FT, PULLED THE THROTTLE FULL BACK TO DESCEND, THEN THE ENG STOPPED. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO START THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE, SO HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN TREES. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DURING IMPACT WITH THE TREES. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE INTOXICATED, WERE DRINKING WHILE THE ACFT WAS BEING REFUELED, AND HAD MADE A 100 DOLLAR WAGER THAT THE PLT COULD GLIDE THE ACFT FROM PIONEER PEAK TO FINGER LAKE WITH THE ENG SHUT OFF. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT WITH BINOCULARS & SAW THAT THE ENG WAS STOPPED. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ENG HAD NOT BEEN STARTED BY THE TIME THE ACFT WENT OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND TREES. MEDICAL PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT AT THE CRASH SITE, THE PLT APPEARED INTOXICATED, HOSTILE & UNCOOPERATIVE. A BLOOD SAMPLE TAKEN ABOUT 2 1/2 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.204.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2345C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2345C-2012-09-04), registration cancelled 2012-09-04, S/N 30645, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30645
- Airframe hours: 2885
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-A 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas W. Schiefer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1981, 10 hours before
- Departed: Z16, WASILLA, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,013 total, 523 in this make and model, 519 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F

## 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 19830402010769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830402010769A), Apr 2, 1983: Cessna 180, Palmer, AK, Destroyed. Intoxicated pilot stopped engine to glide to airport on a bet. Crashed into trees. Took aircraft without permission

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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