Cessna A185E accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 6, 1993
On June 6, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N70020, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a business 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
THE PILOT IN COMMAND EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N70020 · registry record · serial 18501895
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS COMMENCED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSPORTING SUPPLIES TO A LODGE IN PREPARATION FOR THE ARRIVAL OF SEASONAL GUEST. THE OWNER OF THE LODGE ALSO OWNED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED THAT HE COMMENCED THE TAKEOFF WITH 1 NOTCH OF FLAP (10 DEGREES) IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE CESSNA 185 FLOATPLANE OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDS THE USE OF 20 DEGREES OF FLAP. THE TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB WERE UNEVENTFUL. THE PILOT BEGAN A DOWNWIND TURN AT 500 FEET AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF FULL POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PLANE'S ENGINE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS 252 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT LIMITATION.
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: 1,530 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,054 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD at 5:14 pm
- Destination: Stephen Lake AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:18 pm from ANC, 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.
Other NTSB records under N70020 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.