Cessna A185F-II accident near Iliamna, Alaska, September 9, 1984
On September 9, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna A185F-II, registered N61556, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 9, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F-II · all A185F-IIs on the register
- Registration
- N61556 · registry record · serial 18504230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLOAT PLANE PLT BEGAN TAKING OFF FROM A SMALL LAKE IN CALM WIND & GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS. REALIZING THE SITUATION WAS MARGINAL, HE REDUCED POWER TO ABORT (BEFORE LIFTING OFF) & BEGAN A STEP TURN TO THE LEFT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RADIUS OF THE TURN WAS LARGER THAN THE POND'S SHORELINE. BEFORE STOPPING, THE ACFT HIT THE BANK, WHICH WAS ABOUT 12 INCHES HIGH & CONTINUED ABOUT 20 FT THROUGH SMALL SPRUCE TREES.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,620 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 374 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1983; 212 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Big Mountain Lk AK
- Destination: Iliamna Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.