Cessna A-185F accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska, July 10, 1985
On July 10, 1985 at about 10:56 pm local time, a Cessna A-185F, registered N61155, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmendorf Afb, Alaska (Six Mile Lake Seaplane airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- July 10, 1985 · about 10:56 pm local time
- Place
- Elmendorf Afb, Alaska · Six Mile Lake Seaplane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A-185F · all A-185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61155 · registry record · serial 18504114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE THE ACFT STALLED, DID A HALF SPIN & NOSED INTO THE WATER. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING ACFT NOSE PITCHING UP & DOWN & WINGS WOBBLING JUST PRIOR TO THE STALL. THIS WAS PLT'S FIRST FLT IN THIS TYPE ACFT WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR. THE ACFT WAS HEAVILY LOADED WITH PASSENGERS & FISHING GEAR. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ADJUSTED THE RPM TO CLIMB PWR THEN ADJUSTED THE FLAPS WHICH WAS THE ORDER IN WHICH HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL SAYS TO ADJUST FLAPS FIRST THEN PWR.
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, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 776 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 548 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,652 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1985; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,320 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ft. Richardson Flying Club
The flight
- Destination: Beluga Lake AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 4,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 23,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from EDF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.