Cessna A185F accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, March 28, 1992
On March 28, 1992 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N3332S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Chena Marina airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AND WRONG RUNWAY NOT IDENTIFIED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1992 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Chena Marina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3332S · registry record · serial 18502274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND THE LANDING STRIP. THE PILOT OVER FLEW THE RUNWAY AND MISIDENTIFIED THE RUNWAY FOR A TAXIWAY OR ROAD NEAR THE AIRCRAFT PARKING RAMP. INSTEAD OF LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE FROZEN AIRSTRIP FLOAT PLANE CANAL THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE SOFT SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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
- Flight time: 3,825 hours in all; 1,492 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1992; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: R & M Consultants, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,100 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from FAI, 11 miles away
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.