Cessna A185E accident near Juneau, Alaska, April 6, 1982
On April 6, 1982 at about 3:50 am local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N4745Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Alaska (Juneau airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1982 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · Juneau · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N4745Q · no longer on the register · serial 185-1199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT OF THE AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT EXTENDED THE GEAR AND PERFORMED HIS PRELANDING CHECKS. HE STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DESCENDING, HE NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND BEGAN TO ADD POWER. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A RESTART. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LOW PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE ADJUSTING SCREW ON THE FUEL PUMP, PN 638154-1, WAS WORN AND RECESSED IN THE HOUSING. THE SCREW WOULD ROTATE AND VARY THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SETTING.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 385 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 331 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,529 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Auke Bay AK
- Destination: Farmerville LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8, 8,456 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.