Cessna C-207A accident near Golovin, Alaska, May 16, 1985
On May 16, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna C-207A, registered N73635, was substantially damaged in an accident near Golovin, Alaska (Unknown airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 16, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Golovin, Alaska · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-207A
- Registration
- N73635 · no longer on the register · serial 20700610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH A MOUNTAIN SADDLE. AS HE TURNED TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN AND BEGAN HIS CLIMB THE WEATHER DETERIORATED RAPIDLY WITH CEILINGS ZERO, VISIBILITY ZERO AND SEVERE TURBULENCE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE SIDE OF A 1707 FOOT HIGH MOUNTAIN AT THE 1590 FOOT LEVEL ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 015 DEGREES. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,280 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 209 in the last 90 days; 79 in the last 30 days; 4,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,132 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 2, 1985; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLV Golovin AK
- Destination: ELI Elim AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 24 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.