2019 Cessna A185F Accident Near Nome, Alaska (N5163E)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On April 15, 2019, at approximately 0900 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185F airplane, registration N5163E, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Nome, Alaska. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public aircraft flight. The pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to transport two National Park Service employees from Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (PAOT) in Kotzebue, Alaska, to Nome Airport (PAOM), a distance of about 160 nautical miles. The pilot, who was familiar with the route, completed an operational risk assessment and filed a flight plan with the National Park Service Denali Dispatch before departing PAOT at approximately 0814. The graphical weather forecast indicated marginal visual flight rules (VFR) conditions for the area, with a forecast for PAOM of a ceiling better than 1,900 feet and visibility of 10 statute miles.