Cessna 185 accident near Shotgun Hills, Alaska, September 30, 1989
On September 30, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N9706H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shotgun Hills, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN BOTH PERSONAL ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH THE DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shotgun Hills, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N9706H · no longer on the register · serial 18503463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A MOUNTAIN LAKE WITH TWO HUNTERS ABOARD. WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE ESTIMATED AS GUSTING TO 45 KNOTS. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OR ALTITUDE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ABOUT 200' FROM THE SHORELINE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT HAD HE ELECTED TO STAY ON THE LAKE UNTIL THE WIND HAD SUBSIDED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 8,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1988; 128 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BET Bethel AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 35 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N9706H 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.