Cessna A185 accident near Arctic Village, Alaska, July 22, 2017
On July 22, 2017 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna A185, registered N5227R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Arctic Village, Alaska (River airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after an aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2017 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arctic Village, Alaska · River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185 F, built 1976 · all A185s on the register
- Registration
- N5227R · registry record · serial 18503023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that he aborted the takeoff after the airspeed dropped 3 knots before coming up on the step. He added that, as the airplane approached a bend in the river, he applied left rudder but could not overcome the crosswind and current. The right float impacted the beach, the airplane turned perpendicularly, and then the left wing impacted the beach. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,067 hours in all; 2,086 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 19,284 as pilot in command; 602 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 28, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,320 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D20B (piston); 876 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Arctic Village AK
- Destination: Sheenjek River AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from PARC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N5227R 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.