Cessna 180H accident near Anchorage, Alaska, May 8, 1985
On May 8, 1985 at about 4:34 am local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N9042M, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 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
- May 8, 1985 · about 4:34 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9042M · no longer on the register · serial 18052142
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AFTER THE PLT EXTENDED HIS ORIGINAL FLT PLAN ROUTE TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE AREAS OF POOR WEATHER. THE ACFT WAS OVER WATER WHEN FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AND THE ACFT WAS DITCHED UNDER UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 572 hours in all; 348 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 514 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,536 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 10:32 pm
- Destination: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:55 pm
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.