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Private Pilot Lands at Remote Airstrip, Nose Wheel Strikes River Bank Lip (N3386U)

Skwentna, AK, US

On September 15, 2003, a Cessna 182 (registration N3386U) was involved in an aviation accident near Skwentna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudgment of the distance/altitude to the touchdown point during landing, which resulted in an undershoot and collision with a river bank. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot landed at a remote airstrip adjacent to a river. During landing, the nose wheel struck the river bank lip, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain damage to the wings and fuselage.

Incident Details

A private certificated pilot was landing at a remote airstrip located next to a river. The airstrip, which is positioned on a magnetic orientation of 260/080 degrees, measures approximately 1,100 feet in length and 100 feet in width. The threshold of runway 26 begins at the bank of the river.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot, during the landing, the nose wheel struck the lip of the river bank. The impact caused the airplane to nose over onto its back. The airplane received damage to the wings and fuselage as a result of the accident.

Damage

The airplane sustained damage to the wings and fuselage during the nose-over event.

Related events

Same aircraft family

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Sept 2003 Cessna 182 accident near Skwentna, AK?

A private pilot landed at a remote airstrip adjacent to a river. During landing, the nose wheel struck the river bank lip, causing the airplane to nose over and sustain damage to the wings and fuselage.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Sept 2003 Cessna 182 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Sept 2003 involved a Cessna 182, registration N3386U, at Skwentna, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's misjudgment of the distance/altitude to the touchdown point during landing, which resulted in an undershoot and collision with a river bank. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of a river bank that formed the beginning of the runway threshold.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030916X01549. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.