# NTSB ANC90LA108: Cessna 185, N53046, King Salmon, AK, July 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1990, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: King Salmon, AK
- Coordinates: 58.749332, -156.539321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7493&lon=-156.5393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5397/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA108

## Probable cause

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE PISTON ROD ASSEMBLIES.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - terrain condition - tundra (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THREE PISTON ROD ASSEMBLIES HAD FRACTURED, CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53046](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53046), registered now, S/N 18502336, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502336
- Airframe hours: 2592
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Tucker Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 5, 1990, 67 hours before
- Departed: DLG, DILLINGHAM, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17,900 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °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 19900702023469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900702023469A), Jul 2, 1990: Cessna 185F, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Engine connecting rod and bolts failed en route. Landed in soft tundra and nosed over.

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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