Cessna A185F accident near White Mountain, Alaska, August 1, 2018
On August 1, 2018 at about 7:00 am local time, a 1979 Cessna A185F, registered N185KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near White Mountain, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2018 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- White Mountain, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F F, built 1979 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N185KB · registry record · serial 18503698
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when he demonstrated a momentary zero-G maneuver, shortly after which the engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and subsequently conducted a forced landing to tundra covered terrain, during which the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, one engine exhaust valve exhibited signatures consistent with uneven excessive heat exposure, but no mechanical failure of the valve, therefore would not have resulted in a loss of power. It is unlikely that a momentary zero G maneuver would result in a partial power loss that could not be restored.
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 engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 830 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 830 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-D (piston); 1,271 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K29 Council AK at 6:45 am
- Destination: OME Nome AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; a few clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 2:31 am from PAWM, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 6, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.