Cessna 185 accident near Takotna, Alaska, December 12, 1994
On December 12, 1994 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N4552F, was destroyed in an accident near Takotna, Alaska (Takotna airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING FOR THE DEPARTURE. A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND A SNOWBANK WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 1994 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Takotna, Alaska · Takotna
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N4552F · no longer on the register · serial 1851052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING A REMOTE AIRPORT AS A CONTINUING PORTION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS. THE 1,717 FEET LONG RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH 4 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND THE PERIMETER OF THE RUNWAY HAD SNOW BANKS ALONG THE EDGES AND ENDS. THE PILOT BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND LIFTED OFF ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH THE RUNWAY BOUNDARIES FROM THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE RUNWAY NEAR THE DEPARTURE END AND STRUCK A 2 FOOT HIGH SNOW BERM AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,431 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 5, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MCG Mcgrath AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 1,717 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from MCG, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.