Cessna 185D accident near North Pole, Alaska, August 8, 2013
On August 8, 2013 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185D, registered N75LE, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near North Pole, Alaska (Bradley Sky-Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The malfunction of the right main wheel brake during taxi due to a faulty O-ring in the right brake pedal master cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2013 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Bradley Sky-Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185D · all 185Ds on the register
- Registration
- N75LE · registry record · serial 185-0870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had completed his before takeoff checks, and was taxiing the tailwheel-equipped airplane onto the runway for departure. He added power and initiated a left turn to align the airplane with the runway, while attempting to stop the turn the right brake failed and the airplane ground looped striking the right wing on the gravel runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. An examination of the right brake master cylinder revealed that the right brake would not hold pressure and the O-ring within the master cylinder had dried out allowing brake fluid to leak past.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (into takeoff position)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Master cylinder/brake valve › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 5,183 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 5,183 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor I0-520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95Z North Pole AK
- Destination: 95Z North Pole AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 4,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PAFA, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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 N75LE 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.