Cessna 185 accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, September 11, 2007
On September 11, 2007 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 185, registered N94260, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mcgrath, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area which resulted in an overrun and collision with a gravel berm during an aborted takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were his delay in aborting the takeoff, and the short takeoff area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2007 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N94260 · registry record · serial 1850326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was departing from a 960 foot-long, rough and uneven gravel airstrip, with three passengers and baggage during a Title 14, CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The pilot reported that prior to starting the takeoff, he selected 10 degrees of flaps. During the takeoff roll, he selected 20 degrees flaps as the airplane reached rotation speed. The pilot said that the airplane failed to become airborne as it neared the end of the airstrip, and he aborted the takeoff run. He applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it went off the airstrip. The airplane's main landing gear wheels collided with a gravel bar, and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,166 hours in all; 523 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 3,734 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,359.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Servant Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: Mcgrath AK at 7:30 pm
- Destination: Z41 Anchorage AK
- Runway 36, 960 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N94260 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.