Cessna C-185A accident near Quinhagak, Alaska, December 11, 1983
On December 11, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-185A, registered N9706H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quinhagak, Alaska (Quinhagak 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 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
- December 11, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Quinhagak, Alaska · Quinhagak · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-185A
- Registration
- N9706H · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STRUCK A SNOWBANK DURING AN ATTEMPED GO-AROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DID NOT SUBMIT AN ACCIDENT REPORT AND ATTEMPTS TO REACH HIM BY TELEPHONE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A REMOTE SITE WITH NO FACILITIES AND NO AIRSTRIP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BET Bethel AK at 4:25 am
- Destination: KWN Quinhagak AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from BET, 85 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9706H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.