Cessna 185C accident near Stibnite, Idaho, August 12, 1993
On August 12, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185C, registered N2690Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stibnite, Idaho (Pistol Creek airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stibnite, Idaho · Pistol Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185C · all 185Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2690Z · no longer on the register · serial 1850690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLLOUT THE PILOT LOST LEFT BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE 'B-NUT' ON THE LEFT BRAKE LINE, WHERE IT PASSES THROUGH THE FUSELAGE, WAS LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS OBSERVED INSIDE THE FUSELAGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE FITTING, AND THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CONTAINED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FLUID. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ASSISTING A MECHANIC IN MAINTENANCE ON THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SUPPORT BRACKET AND COULD NOT REMEMBER TIGHTENING THE 'B-NUT' OR IF THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE WORK HE ACCOMPLISHED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1993; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pere Air
The flight
- Departed from: SUN Ketchum ID at 3:00 pm
- Runway 23, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.