Cessna A188B accident near Gold King Creek, Alaska, August 31, 1985
On August 31, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188B, registered N53286, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gold King Creek, Alaska (D&D Mining Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 31, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gold King Creek, Alaska · D&D Mining Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N53286 · no longer on the register · serial 567271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE LANDED, THE ACFT WAS ROLLING OUT ON ITS MAIN GEAR IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE, WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKING ACTION. A MOMENT LATER, THE ACFT BEGAN TO PITCH NOSE DOWN. HE COMPENSATED WITH FULL UP ELEVATOR, BUT THE ACFT NOSED 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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 997 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 854 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1985; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bradley Sky Ran AK at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 am
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.
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.