Cessna 180 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 19, 1986
On June 19, 1986 at about 10:57 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2393C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1986 · about 10:57 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2393C · registry record · serial 30693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 25 FT AGL SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE RWY AND PWR WAS REGAINED. THE ACFT THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO OVERHAULED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TO REMEDY A LEAK REASSEMBLED THE UNIT INCORRECTLY. THE OWNER AND PILOT DID NOT INSIST ON THE VALVE PROBLEM BEING REMEDIED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 5:35 pm
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19L, 3,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from FAI, 4 miles away
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2393C on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 180 Skywagon 2,604 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-L 19 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fairbanks International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC86LA084.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.