Cessna A185F accident near Steele Creek, Alaska, May 31, 2026
On May 31, 2026 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna A185F, registered N2821Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Steele Creek, Alaska (Remote 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2026 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Steele Creek, Alaska · Remote · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1977 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2821Q · registry record · serial 18503533
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,254.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2026; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 15
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA050.