Cessna 185 accident near Near Tyonek, Alaska, August 19, 1982
On August 19, 1982, a Cessna 185, registered N3489Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Tyonek, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 19, 1982
- Place
- Near Tyonek, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N3489Y · registry record · serial 3489
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLOAT EQUIPPED PLANE WAS BEING USED TO TRANSPORT CARGO. A PASSENGER WAS PUT ON THE FLIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE, BUT THE PILOT BELIEVED THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN ITS MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT REMAINED AT A LOW ALTITUDE FOR A TIME WHILE THE PASSENGER TOOK PICTURES. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PILOT BEGAN CLIMBING TOWARD MERRIL PASS. HE REPORTED THAT AS HE ENTERED THE PASS, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A 500 FT PER MINUTE RATE OF DESCENT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK WHILE IN A BOWL SHAPED AREA, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN IN THE TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LEVELED THE WINGS AND CRASH LANDED. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 3000 FT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60 DEGREES AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 11,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,199 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Hood AK at 3:40 pm
- Destination: Lake Hood AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.