Cessna 185 accident near Hanson, Massachusetts, December 3, 1988
On December 3, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N6387, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hanson, Massachusetts (Caranland airport). 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 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
- December 3, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hanson, Massachusetts · Caranland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N6387 · no longer on the register · serial 18503334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST LANDED WHEN THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING TRUCKS PARKED NEAR THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ELECTED TO GROUND LOOP THE AIRCRAFT. THE SIDE LOADING ON THE LEFT LANDING GEAR DURING THE GROUND LOOP CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE. EXAM OF AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE HAD SUBSTANTIAL HYDRAULIC FLUID COVERING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Enos Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: MA02 Hanson MA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,845 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.