Cessna 185F accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, July 6, 2007
On July 6, 2007, a Cessna 185F, registered N9464H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain while maneuvering. A factor contributing to the accident was interference by the pilot-rated passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2007
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9464H · registry record · serial 03440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, in a float equipped airplane. In an interview, the pilot said he received a full weather briefing, and filed a VFR flight plan, which included transiting a narrow mountain pass. He said prior to entering the mountain pass, three airplanes flying in the opposite direction exited the pass, leading him to believe it was open. The pilot said once inside the pass, the clouds closed in rapidly, and he lost sight of the river he was following. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the pass was "scuddy," and that he started a slow descent. Upon losing sight of the river he reported that he asked the pilot rated, right seat passenger if he could see the river. He wrote that the passenger, seeing a stream on the right, panicked, and said "turn right," and grabbed the controls, turning the airplane to the right. The pilot indicated that he regained the controls, and made a steep left turn, at which time the airplane impacted on a 45 degree slope. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he should have entered the pass at a lower altitude, and should not have been "scud running." He indicated that the accident would not have happened if the passenger had not panicked, grabbed the controls, and made the right turn. According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that the airplane received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the impact with terrain.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,262 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGG Igiugig AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Lucille Lake AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC07CA061.