Cessna 185 accident near Point Hope, Alaska, November 28, 1992
On November 28, 1992 at about 3:23 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N20752, was substantially damaged in an accident near Point Hope, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1992 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- Point Hope, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N20752 · registry record · serial 18503041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE FAILED ABOUT 5 TO 6 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE PHASE OF OPERATION. THE PILOT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING ON AN ICE FLOW. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PART 135 OPERATOR WAS REPOSITIONING THE AIRPLANE UNDER PART 91. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS TRACED TO A SPUN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE NO. 2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD, RESULTING IN ITS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE SPUN BEARING MOST LIKELY WAS THE RESULT OF EITHER A LOSS OF TORQUE OR INSUFFICIENT TORQUE BEING APPLIED TO THE CRANKCASE THRU STUD BOLTS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,179 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 6, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cape Smythe Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: PHO at 3:16 pm
- Destination: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N20752 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.