# NTSB ANC90FA040: Cessna A185E, N3386L, Alexander Lake, AK, March 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 19, 1990, 21:15 local (Mar 20, 1990, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Alexander Lake, AK
- Coordinates: 55.919403, -159.489715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9194&lon=-159.4897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5285/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA040

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, descent
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ENG LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT BEGAN A DSCNT.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT.  NO REASON WAS VERIFIED FOR THE LOSS OF POWER, THOUGH THE POSSIBILITY OF ICE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 8 DEG & ZERO DEG, RESPECTIVE, WHICH WAS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICE.  THE ACFT WAS FURTHER DAMAGED AFTER THE ACDNT, WHEN IT STARTED TO SWING WILDLY DURING A HELICOPTER SLING OPN & HAD TO BE RELEASED FROM ABOUT 300 FT AGL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3386L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3386L-2013-04-17), registration cancelled 2013-04-17, S/N 185-1338 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Registry model: [Cessna 185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185e) (registry code 2072816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-1338
- Airframe hours: 3377
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David A. Alborn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1989, 135 hours before
- Departed: UNALAKLEET, AK
- Destination: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 5,063 total, 175 in this make and model, 3,814 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900319006589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900319006589A), Mar 19, 1990: Cessna A185E, Alexander Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Engine lost power during a descent en route. Struck trees on night forced landing. Ice blocking fuel was blamed.

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.

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