Cessna 185 accident near Elyria, Ohio, August 1, 1983
On August 1, 1983 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N70498, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Elyria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1983 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Elyria
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N70498 · no longer on the register · serial 18502194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT COULD NOT CONTACT ANYONE AT THE DESTINATION ARPT UNICOM, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 7. THE WIND AT THAT TIME WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 11 KNOTS. ON THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT REPORTEDLY FISHTAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. A WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR & A LANDING DIRECTION INDICATOR WERE INSTALLED AT THE ARPT.
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: 292 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 232 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,060 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from CLE, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.