Cessna A185E accident near Juneau, Alaska, September 22, 1994
On September 22, 1994 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered CFVZP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CLOUDS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1994 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- CFVZP · no longer on the register · serial 185-1191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN FLYING BELOW THE CLOUDS IN A VALLEY. THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE CLIMBING LEFT TURNS PRIOR TO DISAPPEARING INTO THE CLOUDS. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY IN AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CONTACT WITH TREES WAS NOTED AND DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A NOSE FIRST IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,850 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,647 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1994; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,290 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tel Air Services
The flight
- Departed from: 7AK2 Snettisham AK at 12:20 pm
- Destination: Telegraph Creek
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.