Cessna 180H accident near Theordore River, Alaska, June 20, 1985
On June 20, 1985 at about 6:30 am local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N91390, was substantially damaged in an accident near Theordore River, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1985 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Theordore River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N91390 · registry record · serial 18052060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED THE FLOAT PLANE ON THE THEORDORE RIVER WHICH HAD A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF ABOUT 90 FT & HAD FEW STRAIGHT RUNS OF MORE THAN 400 FT. THE RIVER HAD MANY SHARP TURNS, SOME IN EXCESS OF 150 DEGS, & ITS DEPTH WAS AS LOW AS 18 INCHES AT LOW TIDE. THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AS THE TIDE WAS RECEDING & THE WATER WAS FLOWING AT 7 TO 9 KTS. HE STATED THAT HE MISJUDGED THE SPEED OF THE RIVER. WHILE STEP TURNING AROUND A BEND, THE RIGHT WING CONTACKED THE RIVER BANK & THE ACFT TURNED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN IMPACT WITH THE RIVER BANK WAS IMMINENT, HE INITIATED A WATER LOOP TO PREVENT INJURIES.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Lower Fire Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC85FA100.