Cessna 185 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, March 31, 1996
On March 31, 1996 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N9875X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Seaplane airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions. The strong, gusty crosswind was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1996 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Seaplane · 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
- N9875X · registry record · serial 185-0075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had landed on a frozen lake with a ski-equipped airplane and was taxiing to his parking area in a westerly direction. Strong winds from the right produced a weather-vaning tendency on the airplane and the pilot countered by using engine power to maintain directional control. A gust of wind picked up the right wing and the airplane began moving sideways. The left main gear ski dug into the snow and the gear collapsed. The left wing then struck the surface of the lake. The wind conditions were 010 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 28.
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: 630 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,053 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1995; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Louise AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: LHD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 22 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 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.
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.