Cessna 185 accident near Whittier, Alaska, August 23, 1992
On August 23, 1992 at about 2:55 am local time, a Cessna 185, registered N9829X, was destroyed in an accident near Whittier, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT IN COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR ADVERSE WEATHER ADVISORY, WEATHER CONDITIONS (CLOUDS) AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1992 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Whittier, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N9829X · no longer on the register · serial 185-0029
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT FILED VFR FLIGHT PLAN FOR FLIGHT TO REMOTE STRIP EASTBOUND VIA WHITTIER/PORTAGE PASS. APPROX 6 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT 700 FT LEVEL OF PASS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. FSS BRIEFINGS DURING PRECEEDING 6 HRS INCLUDED ADVISORIES OF IMC WEATHER IN MOUNTAIN PASSES, W/PORTAGE PASS CLOSED. TRACK OF AIRCRAFT INDICATED AIRCRAFT WAS SKIRTING LEFT SIDE OF PASS. LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK VERTICAL WALL ON HEADING APPROX 60 DEGREES LEFT OF PASS CENTERLINE. WEATHER OBSERVED AS 200 FT OBSCURED AND 1 AND 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY, WITH RAIN AND FOG. WITNESSES 700 FT BELOW SITE HEARD BUT COULD NOT SEE IMPACT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AQY Girdwood AK at 9:49 pm
- Destination: Softuk Strip AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from 5WT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.