Cessna 185E N2743J

Summary

On 27 August 1997 at about 06:10 local time, a Cessna 185E registered N2743J, operated by Brian W. Kraft, was involved in an accident near Igiugig, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 August 1997 at 06:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Igiugig, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.7507, -156.5409

Aircraft

Cessna 185E

Registration

N2743J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brian W. Kraft

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big River → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC97LA135

3 people were seriously injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, during a maneuvering turn at low altitude, which resulted in an accelerated stall and subsequent collision with the terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of altitude to recover from the stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and three passengers were returning to the pilot's remote area fishing lodge in a float equipped airplane. The pilot flew over the lodge about 200 feet above the ground to alert occupants of the lodge of the airplane's arrival. A witness observed the airplane in a right turn toward the river area, where the pilot intended to land and taxi to a lodge boat dock. During the turn, the nose of the airplane suddenly dropped toward the ground. The airplane then descended out of the witnesses view, behind several trees. The pilot did not remember the accident. The front seat passenger could not remember the crash, but did remember feeling pushed downward into the airplane's seat during the turn. Following recovery of the airplane, an examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.