Cessna 185 accident near Tyonek, AK
On August 10, 2001, a Cessna 185 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tyonek, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 10, 2001
- Place
- Tyonek, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.385°N, 151.389°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010824X01772
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 9, 2001, at an estimated time of 1615 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N4849C, sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees, about 20 miles northwest of Tyonek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The night before the accident flight, a family member reported that the airplane was fueled by the pilot from a metal tank located at his residence on Memory Lake, Wasilla, Alaska. During the fueling process, the metal tank's fuel supply was exhausted, but the family member said that one of the airplane's fuel tanks was completely full, and the other was nearly full. The pilot obtained 15 gallons of additional fuel from the Wasilla Airport which he placed in three, five-gallon plastic containers. One container of five gallons was added to the airplane fuel tanks. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed the Memory Lake property and flew to Lucile Lake, Wasilla. The pilot boarded several passengers at Lucile Lake, and flew to Beluga Lake, Alaska, located about 22 miles northwest of Tyonek. The pilot returned to Lucile Lake, boarded additional passengers, and flew to Beluga Lake. He remained at Beluga Lake and fished until about 1430. The pilot then departed and flew to his residence at Memory Lake, arriving about 1515. The distance from Memory Lake to Lucile L
Probable cause
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel system contamination with water, and the pilot's inadequate preflight procedures. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
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Browse: Alaska · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
