Cessna A185F accident near Ely, Minnesota, June 15, 1989
On June 15, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N70466, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ely, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PRESENCE OF TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N70466 · no longer on the register · serial 18502180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NORMAL PREFLT OF THE FLOAT PLANE WAS MADE WITH ONLY STRAW OF A BIRD NEST BEING REMOVED BEFORE FLT. TWO WITNESSES RPRTD THAT THE ACFT'S ENGS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING AT FULL POWER AS THE FLOAT PLANE WAS CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE OVER BIG MOOSE LAKE (WHERE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE ACFT HAD BEEN FISHING). ONE OF THE PASSENGERS (THE PLT'S 15 YR OLD SON) SAID THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER & THE PLT REVERSED COURSE IN AN ATMT TO LAND ON THE LAKE. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE LAKE & THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & SWAMPY TERRAIN DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENG WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. AFTER MINOR REPAIRS, THE ENG RAN NORMALLY DURING AN OPNL CHECK.
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: 220 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELO Ely MN at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from ELO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N70466 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.