# NTSB ANC84FA027: Cessna C-185-D, N5886T, Anchorage, AK, December 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1983, 10:53 local (14:53 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.20074, -149.820709 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2007&lon=-149.8207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4189
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4189/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA027

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel supply - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS. THE PLT STATED THAT SMOKE ENTERED THE COCKPIT FROM THE HEAT VENTS. HE THOUGHT THE SMOKE WAS FROM RESIDUAL OIL SPILLED ON THE ENGINE DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND HE PULLED THE ENGINE CUT OFF MISTAKING IT FOR THE CABIN AIR. THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A GRAVEL PIT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM INITIAL POINT OF DEPARTURE. A MAINTENACE INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5886T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5886T-2001-09-14), registration cancelled 2001-09-14, S/N 185-0786 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-185-D
- Registry model: [Cessna 185D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185d) (registry code 2072812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-0786
- Airframe hours: 7755
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: James R. Methaney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1983, 53 hours before
- Destination: CDV, CORDOVA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 6, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,015 total, 2,008 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRI, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19831219061389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831219061389A), Dec 19, 1983: Cessna 185D, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Smoke in cockpit from spilled oil. Pilot pulled idle cutoff in place of cabin air. Crash landed off end of runway.

## Other investigations on N5886T (2)

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 ANC76DAG46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAG46), Sep 19, 1975: Cessna 185 (N5886T), Cordova, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC70A0011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC70A0011), Jul 25, 1969: Cessna 185 (N5886T), Seward, AK, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.