Douglas DC-3 accident near King Salmon, Alaska, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Douglas DC-3, registered N168Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near King Salmon, Alaska (King Salmon airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 30, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- King Salmon, Alaska · King Salmon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 · all DC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N168Z · no longer on the register · serial 4316384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN INSTRUMENT APCH, THE ACFT'S RIGHT ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT MOVED THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK & BEGAN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE OVERCAST & THE AIRCREW SAW THE ARPT. HOWEVER, THE LEFT ENG ALSO LOST POWER. THE CAPTAIN NOTED THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING & ELECTED TO LAND ON TUNDRA BESIDE A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT DURING AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CAPTAIN NOTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS MISSING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT HE DID NOT SEE ANY FUEL STAINS ON THE WING.
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: 4,250 hours in all; 1,125 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 4,170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1985; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 28,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOM Homer AK at 1:30 pm
- Destination: AKN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from AKN, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.