Cessna 185A accident near Teller, Alaska, August 15, 1995
On August 15, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185A, registered N4145Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Teller, Alaska (Port Clarence Cgs airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DEFLATION OF THE LEFT MAIN TUNDRA TIRE DUE TO VALVE STEM DAMAGE (FAILURE) WHEN THE TIRE ROTATED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE WHEEL RIM, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND A GROUND SWERVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Teller, Alaska · Port Clarence Cgs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185A · all 185As on the register
- Registration
- N4145Y · no longer on the register · serial 185-0345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE LANDING AT A COAST GUARD STATION TO BEGIN WORK. THE RUNWAY WAS 4,500 FEET LONG AND HAD AN ASPHALT SURFACE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LARGE TUNDRA TIRES UTILIZING LARGER THAN STANDARD WHEEL ADAPTERS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, LEFT AILERON, AND LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. AN INSPECTION OF THE LEFT MAIN TIRE REVEALED THAT IT HAD ROTATED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE WHEEL RIM ALONG THE TIRE BEAD, WHICH DAMAGED THE TIRE TUBE VALVE STEM AND DEFLATED THE TIRE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK54 AK at 1:05 pm
- Destination: KPC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,500 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N4145Y 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.