Cessna 175 accident near Bancroft, Idaho, March 2, 1985
On March 2, 1985, a Cessna 175, registered N9386B, was destroyed in an accident near Bancroft, Idaho (Bancroft airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 2, 1985
- Place
- Bancroft, Idaho · Bancroft · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N9386B · no longer on the register · serial 55186
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN APRX 500 YARDS EAST OF THE BANCROFT ARPT. N9386B WAS ONE OF A FLT OF TWO ACFT RETURNING TO BANCROFT FROM PRESTON, ID. THE WX HAD DETERIORATED DURING THE FLT WITH SNOW SHOWERS AND BLOWING SNOW. WHILE THE OTHER ACFT WAS LANDING AT BANCROFT. THE PLT OF N9386B ELECTED TO FLY OVER HIS HOUSE BEFORE LANDING. THE PLT'S WIFE HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER AND BECAME CONCERNED WHEN HE DID NOT RETURN HOME. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN LEFT WING FIRST AND CARTWHEELED. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALONG WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BASE LEG FOR RWY 25.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U10 Preston ID at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°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.