Cessna 182H accident near Crown King, Arizona, January 10, 1986
On January 10, 1986 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N8535S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crown King, Arizona (Private Airstrip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 10, 1986 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Crown King, Arizona · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8535S · registry record · serial 18256635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A 5600 FT RIDGE LINE SHORTLY AFTER EXECUTING A GO-AROUND AT A PRIVATELY OWNED DIRT, UPWARD SLOPING AIRSTRIP. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THE ACFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL ON RWY 05 WHEN THE PLT APPLIED FULL PWR. WHEN THE ACFT WAS AT THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RWY IT FAILED TO CLEAR THE RIDGE LINE. THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 10-15 KTS WITH INTERMITTENT GUSTS OF UNKNOWN INTENSITY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT AND THAT HE TRIED TO EXECUTE A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN MANEUVER THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENG WAS PRODUCING FULL PWR DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,600 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 11,500 as pilot in command; 8,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P37 Glendale AZ at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 1,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.