# NTSB SEA83LA126: Cessna 182H, N1820X, Petersburg, AK, June 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 1983, 03:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, AK
- Coordinates: 57.049739, -132.620681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0497&lon=-132.6207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39713/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA126

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical
  - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON A NIGHT FLT FROM WHITEHORSE TO PRINCE RUPERT, CANADA VIA SKAGWAY & JUNEAU, AK. ACCORDING TO HIM, WHEN PASSING THE FIVE FINGERS NDB TO ENTER THE STRAIT, HE ENCOUNTERED SOUTHEAST WINDS OF APRX 25 KTS. ON ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO JUNEAU, HE BECAME UNSURE OF HIS POSITION DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. HE SPENT SEVERAL HRS TRYING TO DETERMINE HIS POSITION & FINALLY SAW THE LIGHTS OF A SHIP. ALSO, HE WAS AT LOW ALTITUDE & REPORTEDLY TRIED FOR 45 MIN TO COMMUNICATE HIS PROBLEM BY RADIO. EVENTUALLY, COMMUNICATION WAS RELAYED BY ANOTHER ACFT THAT WAS OVERFLYING THE AREA. AS FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED, THE ACFT WAS DITCHED NEXT TO THE SHIP THAT HE HAD LOCATED. HE WAS RESCUED BY PERSONNEL ON THE SHIP, BUT THE ACFT SANK. THE STUDENT PLT HAD ONLY 7 HRS OF NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE & NO REPORTED INSTRUMENT TIME. THE WX AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2000 FT OVERCAST, 1/2 MI VISIBILITY WITH RAIN & FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1820X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1820X-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N 18255920, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182H
- Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18255920
- Airframe hours: 2050
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bruce Russek
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1983
- Departed: YKY, WHITEHORSE
- Destination: VPT, PRINCE RUPPERT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 258 total, 183 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KDN, 20 nm away

## 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 19830616025879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830616025879A), Jun 16, 1983: Cessna 182H, Petersburg, AK, Destroyed. Became lost en route at night in low ceiling rain and fog. Ran out of fuel and ditched at sea.

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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