Cessna A185F accident near Molalla, Oregon, May 19, 2004
On May 19, 2004 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N61611, was destroyed in an accident near Molalla, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain control. Factors include mountain obscuration, clouds and convective weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2004 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Molalla, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61611 · no longer on the register · serial 18504236
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was completing the final leg of a cross-country flight that originated earlier in the day. Approximately 44 miles west of Boise, Idaho, the pilot received an in-flight weather update for the route of flight. The weather specialist advised the pilot of areas of thunderstorms, icing and mountain obscuration along the intended route of flight. The specialist informed the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended in areas of higher terrain. After receiving the weather update, the pilot informed the specialist that he could see the convective activity ahead of him. After failing to arrive at the planned destination, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued for the missing airplane. The airplane wreckage was later located in mountainous terrain approximately 40 miles southeast of the pilot's planned destination. Widespread areas of instrument meteorological conditions were reported along the pilot's route of flight.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,975 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BYI Burley ID at 10:10 pm
- Destination: OR81 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.