Cessna 180D accident near Wrangell, Alaska, November 4, 1985
On November 4, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180D, registered N15721, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wrangell, 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 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
- November 4, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wrangell, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N15721 · no longer on the register · serial 18051018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ONTO MUSKEG DUE TO A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A 180 DEGREE TURN AWAY FROM A FOG BANK WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 7 1/2 GALLONS AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 1 1/2 QUARTS OF FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RAN AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND RAN NORMALLY. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO FUEL FLOW INTERUPTION FROM THE 180 TURN.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grief Island AK at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SPB Petersburg AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.