Cessna 185E accident near Pilot Point, Alaska, September 29, 2013
On September 29, 2013 at about 4:15 am local time, a 1966 Cessna 185E, registered N1592F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pilot Point, Alaska (Pilot Point 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 pilot's decision to land the airplane on the ramp, in the vicinity of buildings, in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2013 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Pilot Point, Alaska · Pilot Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185E, built 1966 · all 185Es on the register
- Registration
- N1592F · registry record · serial 185-0974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, as he was returning to the airport from a local flight, he noticed the wind had increased to 25 knots, gusting to 32 knots, and was almost a direct crosswind with the landing runway. He decided to land the airplane on the ramp, directly into the wind. As soon as the landing gear touched down, he noticed he was drifting toward a building, and was unable to correct for the drift. The left wing collided with the corner of the building, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,825 hours in all; 4,650 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 28, 2013
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 2013; 51 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO 520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNP Pilot Point AK at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PNP Pilot Point AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
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 N1592F 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.