Cessna 185 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, June 14, 1984
On June 14, 1984, a Cessna 185, registered N714HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska (Mother Lode airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- June 14, 1984
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Mother Lode
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N714HP · registry record · serial 18504397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A ROBERTSON STOL MODIFICATION. THE OWNER/STUDENT PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND AT HIS PRIVATE STRIP, THE STALL WARNING HORN S0UNDED. AT THAT TIME, HE INCREASED POWER & THE ACFT TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT & STRUCK TREES. THE AIRSTRIP WAS LOCATED IN A NARROW CANYON & WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO GUSTY WINDS; HOWEVER, THE PLT REPORTED THE WIND WAS CALM. HE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR FLT IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from GKN, 80 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.
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.