Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 185F N93904

16 September 1998 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 16 September 1998 at about 00:00 local time, a Cessna 185F registered N93904, operated by Jerald D. Stansel, was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. 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 00:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
64.6704, -147.0393
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Registration
N93904
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Jerald D. Stansel
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Business
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Bettles → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC98LA151

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and his failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot was flying a float equipped airplane from a remote mountain area to pick up supplies for a hunting/guide business. During the flight, weather conditions, consisting of low ceilings and low visibility, forced the pilot to deviate from his planned route. He was flying over a public use cabin located on a remote lake, and noticed a person on the ground waving. The pilot landed on the lake to wait for improving weather conditions, and to determine if the person at the cabin was in need of assistance. After waiting for better weather conditions, the pilot began a takeoff from the lake without the person at the cabin. The pilot estimated the lake was about 1/4 mile long. As the airplane was about to lift off, the left wing collided with several trees located along the bank of the lake. The airplane then collided with the shore, and received damage to the engine, propeller, left wing, the right wing lift strut, and the float assemblies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 185 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Jun 1998 Cessna 185
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9 Apr 1998 Cessna 185F
N5485R
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24 Feb 1998 Cessna 185E
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23 Jul 1998 Cessna 185
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12 Mar 1998 Cessna 185
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24 Mar 1998 Cessna 185E
N1987U
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All 1,004 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Nov 1998 Boeing 747-400
HL741
Anchorage, Alaska, United States Asiana Airlines Minor injuries -
3 Nov 1998 Piper PA-12
N5129Y
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6 Feb 1998 Cessna 207
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11 Nov 1998 Piper PA-18-150
N3391Z
Kenai, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
28 Apr 1998 Taylorcraft BL12
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14 May 1998 Cessna 208
N192AV
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All 170,864 records in United States