Cessna A185F accident near Chandalar Lake, Alaska, June 6, 2021
On June 6, 2021 at about 5:30 am local time, a 1978 Cessna A185F, registered N85DT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chandalar Lake, Alaska (Chandalar Lake 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 over application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2021 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Chandalar Lake, Alaska · Chandalar Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1978 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N85DT · registry record · serial 18503474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing after the tail had settled, he applied the brakes too hard. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing, right wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. As a recommendation, the pilot added that he should not have applied the brakes as hard.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 213 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-D 139B (piston); 915 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTF Fairbanks AK at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from PFYU, 94 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PFYU 060456Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 19/04 A2972 RMK AO2 SLP070 T01940039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.