Cessna A185F Skywagon, registered to JNS Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot, N8041R: Accident occurred August 21, 2018 in Kaktovik, Alaska

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fairbanks, Alaska

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N8041R

Location: Kaktovik, AK
Accident Number: ANC18LA066
Date & Time: 08/21/2018, 1830 AKD
Registration: N8041R
Aircraft: Cessna A185
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 21, 2018, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a tail-wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N8041R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power about 75 miles southeast of Kaktovik, Alaska, on a bank of the Kangakut River. The airline transport pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to JNS Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to locate a hunting camp along the Kangakut River. While he was flying a downwind leg to make an approach to a river gravel bar, the engine lost power and he was forced to make a landing straight ahead. He advanced the throttle to full and confirmed the mixture and propeller controls were in the full forward position. The propeller was turning. As he approached the landing surface, he activated the auxiliary fuel pump and engine power was restored; however, the airplane was too low to recover, and it impacted the brush covered terrain. The main landing gear sheared off and the airplane slid off the river bank, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, left elevator and right lift strut.

The airplane is equipped with a Continental Motors IO-520 series engine.

The airplane will be recovered and secured for further investigation. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N8041R
Model/Series: A185 F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PARC, 2092 ft msl
Observation Time: 1856 ADT
Distance from Accident Site: 109 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2400 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 40°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 5000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.81 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point:
Destination: 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  69.263889, -141.723333 (est)