Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 185A N5081H

6 July 1991 · Valdez, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 6 July 1991 at about 22:35 local time, a Cessna 185A registered N5081H was involved in an accident near Valdez, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one 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 22:35
Classification
Accident
Location
Valdez, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
61.1498, -146.8093
Aircraft
Cessna 185A
Registration
N5081H
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Positioning
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC91FA090

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON REACHING THE 20 DEGREE FLAP POSITION IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE AIRPLANE RAPIDLY NOSED DOWN INTO AN ALMOST VERTICAL DIVE. FULL AFT ELEVATOR FAILED TO CHANGE THE PITCH ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AND SANK IN WATER ABOUT 620 FEET DEEP AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. WHILE THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD 'PITCHED DOWN' ON SEVERAL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE HE WAS FLYING IT, THE OWNER AND THREE OTHER PILOTS WHO HAD FLOWN IT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE FLEW NORMALLY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 185 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
12 May 1991 Cessna 185F
N1745R
Sanford, Maine, United States
no coordinates
George Grinnall Minor injuries -
25 May 1991 Cessna 185
N4649E
Sterling, Alaska, United States Ross N. Brudenell Serious injuries -
6 Sep 1991 Cessna 185F
N1074F
Afton, Minnesota, United States Brian D. Larson Minor injuries -
8 Sep 1991 Cessna 185
N1637Z
Duluth, Minnesota, United States Jeff A. Foster Minor injuries -
3 Jul 1991 Cessna 185F
N222WH
Farewell, Alaska, United States William D. Hansen No injuries -
13 Jul 1991 Cessna 185A
N1689Z
Wood River, Alaska, United States Kevin R. O'hara No injuries -

All 1,004 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Mar 1991 Piper PA-20
N2636A
Anchorage, Alaska, United States Hickok, Bruce D. No injuries -
22 May 1991 David K Maxwell MAX-1
N4921S
Sutton, Alaska, United States Stanley R. Dapkus Serious injuries -
5 Jan 1991 Cessna 172G
N4468L
Wasilla, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Larry M. Driskill No injuries -
2 Feb 1991 Champion 7EC
N8988R
Eagle River, Alaska, United States Robert C. Bischoff No injuries -
29 Mar 1991 Cessna 206
N6216U
Homer, Alaska, United States - Fatal 4
9 Apr 1991 Piper PA-18-150
N6966D
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States - Fatal 1

All 170,864 records in United States