Cessna 185F accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, February 23, 1997
On February 23, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185F, registered N93189, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation of wind conditins, and failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff run. The crosswind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N93189 · registry record · serial 18503194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were departing a remote, frozen lake, in a wheel/ski equipped airplane. During the takeoff run, in a southerly direction, the airplane encountered strong gusty winds from the east. The airplane began to slide sideways to the right and the right main gear separated from the fuselage at the upper gear attach point. The right wing and propeller struck the ice. The closest official weather observation station, 41 miles west of the accident site, was reporting wind from the east at 12 knots with gusts to 24 knots.
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: 552 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 466 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1997; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from BIG, 41 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.