Cessna C-172M accident near Wasilla, Alaska, August 4, 1985
On August 4, 1985 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-172M, registered N20338, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- August 4, 1985 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172M
- Registration
- N20338 · no longer on the register · serial 61202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH THE PURPOSE OF OBSERVING A HUNTING CAMP FROM THE AIR. WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE CANYON, THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND LOWERED THE FLAPS 20 DEGREES. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE CANYON FLOOR IN THE BRUSH. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 150 FOOT ON ITS LANDING GEAR BEFORE NOSING OVER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,444 hours in all; 713 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 3,216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,809 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1985; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z16 Wasilla AK at 4:38 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.