Cessna 185 N9706H
30 September 1989 · Shotgun Hills, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 30 September 1989 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N9706H, operated by Gunder, Dennis, was involved in an accident near Shotgun Hills, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Shotgun Hills, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185
- Registration
- N9706H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gunder, Dennis
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Bethel
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC89LA178
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN BOTH PERSONAL ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH THE DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A MOUNTAIN LAKE WITH TWO HUNTERS ABOARD. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE ESTIMATED AS GUSTING TO 45 KNOTS. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OR ALTITUDE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ABOUT 200' FROM THE SHORELINE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT HAD HE ELECTED TO STAY ON THE LAKE UNTIL THE WIND HAD SUBSIDED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 185 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185 | Fishers, New York, United States | Paul V. Hyland | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1989 | Cessna 185E | Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1989 | Cessna 185 | Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1989 | Cessna 185F | Kahiltna Glac, Alaska, United States | Doug Geeting Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185D | Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States | Raymond J. Descheneaux | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1989 | Cessna 185F | Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,004 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1989 | Piper PA-32 | Kasigluk, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1989 | Aeronca 15AC | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 1989 | Cessna 180-A | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1989 | Cessna 152 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1989 | Cessna 180 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1989 | Piper PA-18 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |