Cessna 177 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, October 26, 1985
On October 26, 1985 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N300WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska (Gaede Strip 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1985 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Gaede Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N300WC · no longer on the register · serial 17702042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE RIGHT WING TANK QUICK DRAIN WAS FROZEN AND THE FUEL STRAINER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A MECHANIC, A TAKEOFF WAS PERFORMED AND THE ENG QUIT DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED ICE AND SMALL AMOUNTS OF PAINT, FOAM INSULATION, RUST AND WOOD CHIPS IN THE SYSTEM. THE PLT WAS RETURNING THE ACFT TO HOME BASE FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 524 hours in all; 117 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 847 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
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 N300WC 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.