Cessna 185A accident near Valdez, Alaska, July 6, 1991
On July 6, 1991 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 185A, registered N5081H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdez, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1991 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Valdez, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185A · all 185As on the register
- Registration
- N5081H · registry record · serial 18503221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON REACHING THE 20 DEGREE FLAP POSITION IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE AIRPLANE RAPIDLY NOSED DOWN INTO AN ALMOST VERTICAL DIVE. FULL AFT ELEVATOR FAILED TO CHANGE THE PITCH ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AND SANK IN WATER ABOUT 620 FEET DEEP AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. WHILE THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD 'PITCHED DOWN' ON SEVERAL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE HE WAS FLYING IT, THE OWNER AND THREE OTHER PILOTS WHO HAD FLOWN IT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE FLEW NORMALLY.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D-24 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from VWS, 1 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.
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.