Cessna 185 N9829X
23 August 1992 · Whittier, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 August 1992 at about 02:55 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N9829X, operated by James R. Wirth, was involved in an accident near Whittier, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Whittier, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 60.8494, -148.0307
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185
- Registration
- N9829X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- James R. Wirth
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Girdwood → Softuk Strip
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC92FA141
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
PILOT IN COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR ADVERSE WEATHER ADVISORY, WEATHER CONDITIONS (CLOUDS) AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
PILOT FILED VFR FLIGHT PLAN FOR FLIGHT TO REMOTE STRIP EASTBOUND VIA WHITTIER/PORTAGE PASS. APPROX 6 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT 700 FT LEVEL OF PASS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. FSS BRIEFINGS DURING PRECEEDING 6 HRS INCLUDED ADVISORIES OF IMC WEATHER IN MOUNTAIN PASSES, W/PORTAGE PASS CLOSED. TRACK OF AIRCRAFT INDICATED AIRCRAFT WAS SKIRTING LEFT SIDE OF PASS. LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK VERTICAL WALL ON HEADING APPROX 60 DEGREES LEFT OF PASS CENTERLINE. WEATHER OBSERVED AS 200 FT OBSCURED AND 1 AND 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY, WITH RAIN AND FOG. WITNESSES 700 FT BELOW SITE HEARD BUT COULD NOT SEE IMPACT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 185 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1992 | Cessna 185F | Pelican, Alaska, United States | Bellair, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 May 1992 | Cessna 185 | Kahiltna Glacie, Alaska, United States | JIM and Julie Okonek | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1992 | Cessna 185 | Durango, Colorado, United States | Heath, Jack L. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1992 | Cessna 185F | Talkeetna, Alaska, United States | K2 Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Cessna 185 | Sole Lake, Alaska, United States | Hudson Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1992 | Cessna 185F | Ekuk, Alaska, United States | Danial P. Seybert | No injuries | - |
All 1,004 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | John Clark | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 1992 | Richard C Ballow KITFOX 1 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | Jones, William Marshall | No injuries | - |
| 17 Feb 1992 | Aeronca 7AC | Sitka, Alaska, United States | Diment, Archie G. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Oct 1992 | Champion 7EC | Chugiak, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Feb 1992 | Cessna 180 | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | Sheldon, Robert J. | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1992 | De Havilland DH6 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Markair Express, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |