# Accident 20080408831869A: Cessna A185E, Big Lake, AK, April 8, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2008, 17:36 local time
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Airport: Big Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5714° N, 149.9675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5714&lon=-149.9675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185AR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185AR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,820 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC08CA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080408831869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) UPON RETURNING FROM ILLIAMNA (PAIL) TO A LAKE LOCATED FIVE MILES NORTH OF BIG LAKE, THE PILOT IN COMMAND ENCOUNTERED MARGINAL WEATHER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIVERT AROUND THE WEATHER, THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SUPPLY WAS EXHAUSTED AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS EXISTED AND FALLING SNOW WAS PRESENT DURING THE FLIGHT AND AT THE TIME OF THE FORCED LANDING. AS A RESULT OF THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NEITHER THE PILOT IN COMMAND OR THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT IN COMMAND HAD NOT FILED A FORMAL FLIGHT PLAN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC08CA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA049), Apr 9, 2008: Cessna 185 (N185AR), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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