# Accident 20100310029659A: Cessna A185E, Tokatna, AK, March 10, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 10, 2010, 15:35 local time
- Place: Tokatna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.0856° N, 156.4236° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0856&lon=-156.4236&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70039, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70039-2017-05-31) (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
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 27,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC10LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100310029659A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED ON 03/11/2010 AT THE MCGRATH AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD DEPARTED HIS HOME AT CAMPBELL LAKE, ANCHORAGE ALASKA ON 03/09/2010 WITH FULL FUEL AND FLEW 1.5 HOURS TO NIKOLAI, AK (PAFS) AND SPENT THE NIGHT. ON 03/10/2010, HE PERFORMED A NORMAL PREFLIGHT, DEPARTED PAFS AND FLEW TO TOKATNA, ALASKA. HE STATED HE WAS ON THE GROUND AT TOKATNA 3 HOURS. AFTER A NORMAL PREFLIGHT, WITH 2 HOURS OF FUEL, HE DEPARTED TOKATNA FOR A FLIGHT TO MCGRATH FOLLOWING THE IDITAROD TRAIL. AFTER 15 MINUTES FLYING TIME 4.9 MILES EAST OF OPHIR, ALASKA, WHILE AT LOW CRUISE POWER AT 600 FEET, THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. HE MANEUVERED TOWARD A CLEARING WHILE PERFORMING THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER. WHILE DESCENDING FOR THE FORCED LANDING, THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH SOME TREES, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO IMPACT THE GOUND HARD IN A NORMAL ATTITUDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, PROPELLER, FUSELAGE, AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR.

## 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 ANC10LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA024), Mar 10, 2010: Cessna A185E (N70039), Ophir, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

## Other reports on N70039 (5)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19960503009389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960503009389A), May 3, 1996: Cessna A185E (N70039), Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped and nosed over landing in crosswind on a beach.
- [Incident 19811115079169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811115079169I), Nov 15, 1981: Cessna A185E (N70039), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Pilot taxied into empty aircraft left on taxiway in darkness.
- [Accident 19810514025209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810514025209A), May 14, 1981: Cessna A185E (N70039), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on takeoff. Landed in swampy tundra end of runway. Nosed over. Found rag in engine air intake.
- [Incident 19800823066181I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800823066181I), Aug 23, 1980: Cessna A185E (N70039), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Taxiing float planes prop struck wing tip of another taxiing float plane. Struck N9577G.
- [Accident 19750918037929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750918037929A), Sep 18, 1975: Cessna A185E (N70039), Twin Lakes, AK, Substantial damage. Winds gusting to 30K.

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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