Cessna A185F accident near Amitchiak Lake, Alaska, August 1, 1991
On August 1, 1991 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N1687M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Amitchiak Lake, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING; THEREBY LOSING CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE MOUNTAIN WAVE, AND INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FROM WHICH TO RECOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1991 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Amitchiak Lake, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1687M · no longer on the register · serial 18501874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AMITCHIAK LAKE IS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY WITH A FIELD ELEVATION OF 2,500 FEET. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE NORTH, NORTHWEST. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND AND HAD TO MAKE A TURN TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS DIRECTLY DOWNWIND OF RISING TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND WAS FLYING IN A SOUTH, SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION OVER THE WATER WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WENT DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED INTO THE WATER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITY WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE, AND OTHER SYSTEMS ON THE AIRPLANE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1991; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.