Cessna 185 accident near (N) Skwentna, Alaska, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 5:30 am local time, a Cessna 185, registered N3991Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near (N) Skwentna, Alaska (Lake Creek airport). 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
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
- June 18, 1983 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- (N) Skwentna, Alaska · Lake Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N3991Q · no longer on the register · serial 1850217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS GROUND LOOPED INTENTIONALLY TO PREVENT A COLLISION WITH PEOPLE OR BOATS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NO BRAKING ACTION DURING LANDING. HE BELIEVES SOMEONE LOOSENED THE PLUGS IN THE BOTTOM OF BOTH BRAKE CYLINDERS AND THESE PLUGS DROPPED OUT IN FLIGHT. HE SAID BOTH PLUGS WERE IN PLACE DURING PREFLIGHT AND BRAKING WAS GOOD WHILE TAXING FOR TAKEOFF. THE TAPPED THREADS FOR THOSE PLUGS WERE CLEAN AND SHINY DURING POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION.
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
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,941 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1982; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 215 Birchwood AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Lake Creek Stp. AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.