Cessna A185E accident near Refuge Cove, Alaska, May 26, 1984
On May 26, 1984 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N2231T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Refuge Cove, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 26, 1984 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Refuge Cove, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N2231T · registry record · serial 1383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED IN HIS REPORT ON FORM 6120.1 THAT THE ACFT WAS ON STEP DURING TAKEOFF WHEN THE ACFT BEGAN A ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING HIT THE WATER TWICE IN SPITE OF AILERON CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT IT. WITH THE APPLICATION OF RUDDER AND A POWER REDUCTION THE ACFT WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. AFTER DISREGARDING IDEAS OF A TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS WATER TAXIED 35 MILES TO KETCHIKAN. THE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SAID HE COULD SEE NO OBVIOUS MALFUNCTION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 588 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 477 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 1983; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Refuge Cove AK at 10:26 pm
- Destination: NONE Shoal Cove AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KTN
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.
Other NTSB records under N2231T 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.