Cessna 185 accident near Takotna, Alaska, March 5, 2008
On March 5, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N1224F, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Takotna, Alaska (Takotna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Takotna, Alaska · Takotna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N1224F · no longer on the register · serial 18502786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot was taking off on a short, snow-covered runway in a ski-equipped airplane. He said the day was warm, and as the airplane accelerated down the runway the skis did not release from the snow. He aborted the takeoff, but the airplane slid off the end of the runway and down an embankment. The pilot said the airplane's wings and fuselage were damaged when the airplane left the runway.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCT Takotna AK
- Destination: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,717 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
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.