Cessna 207 and Cessna 207A mid-air collision near Emmonak, Alaska, May 12, 1985
On May 12, 1985 at about 2:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 207 (N9975M) and Cessna 207A (N1809Q), were involved in a mid-air collision near Emmonak, Alaska. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 12, 1985 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Emmonak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 207 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N9975M · no longer on the register · serial 2070772
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 207A · all 207As on the register
- Registration
- N1809Q · no longer on the register · serial 20700787
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 207 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT HE PASSED THE N1809Q AIRPLANE AND WHN HE WAS 22 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT HE ENCOUNTERED SOME BIRDS. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS PERFORMING MILD EVASIVE ACTION AS A RESULT OF THE BIRDS AND HE THEN HEARD HIS PROPELLER STRIKING METAL. HE SAW HIS PROPELLER STRIKING THE WING OF N1809Q AND DURING THE IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION HIS LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 207A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE WAS PASSED BY THE AIRPLANE N9975M AND DID NOT SEE IT AGAIN UNTIL HE WAS AT HIS RIGHT REAR AND SLIGHTLY BELOW. THE PROPELLER OF N9975M STRUCK THE AILERON AND DURING THE EVASIVE MANEUVERING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OF N9975M STRUCK THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE REACTED NORMALLY BUT HE EXPERIENCED HEAVY CONTROL PRESSURES. HE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT ST. MARY'S ALASKA.
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 for the Cessna 207 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,655 hours in all; 1,010 in this make and model; 197 in the last 90 days; 2,478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 860 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 1985; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMK Emmonak AK at 8:49 pm
- Destination: KSM St. Mary'S AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 207A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,709 hours in all; 3,958 in this make and model; 156 in the last 90 days; 5,455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 385 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMK Emmonok AK at 8:49 pm
- Destination: KSM St. Mary'S AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N9975M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.