Cessna A185F accident near Deer Isle, Maine, August 25, 1989
On August 25, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N4840C, was destroyed in an accident near Deer Isle, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT IN DETERMINING THE ADEQUACY OF THE TAKEOFF ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE EXISTING ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Deer Isle, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4840C · no longer on the register · serial 18502608
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA TOOK OFF FROM A NARROW LAKE WITH STRONG GUSTY CROSSWINDS. ONCE AIRBORNE THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT DUE TO AN INADEQUATE CLIMB RATE TO CLEAR THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. HE RAN OUT OF WATER & CRASHED INTO TREES ON THE SHORELINE. WIND GUSTING 28 KNOTS.
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: 1,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Cranland ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 19 knots, gusting 28
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.