Cessna A185F Skywagon, N4358Q, fatal accident occurred on September 15, 2026, near Stony River, Alaska

• Location: Stony River, AK 
• Accident Number: ANC26FA105 
• Date & Time: September 15, 2026, 12:10 Local 
• Registration: N4358Q 
• Aircraft: Cessna A185F 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203828/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4358Q

On September 15, 2026 about 1210 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185F airplane, N4358Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stony River, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight.

The pilot departed the Aniak Airport (ANI), Aniak, Alaska, about 0910 for a remote hunting camp airstrip near the Fortyseven Creek. About 1020, the pilot reported after landing at the remote airstrip that the wind and turbulence were very strong and he was getting tossed around a lot.He planned to transport two hunters, their moose meat and gear, to the Sleetmute Airport (SLQ), Sleetmute, Alaska, where the hunters were to await further transportation to Anchorage, Alaska. He loaded the first hunter, the hunter's gear, moose meat and antlers into the airplane. The pilot attempted to load one moose hindquarter into the airplane's belly pod, but it would not fit and it was left at the airstrip. The passenger and his gear weighed about 300 lbs.  

The remote airstrip has about 1,600 ft of useable runway. The runway is orientated east to west with a downslope to the east that gets steeper towards the end of the strip. Witnesses report thatnormally pilots start at the top and have their engine at full throttle by a landmark known as the meat shack or fuel shack. During takeoff on the accident flight, the pilot did not appear to use the entire runway, and it sounded like he delayed application of full power until about 20 to 30 yards past the meat shack. The airplane departed to the east with a left turn to the north. The wind was coming from the south. Witnesses indicated that the wind was so strong they could not hear the sound of the engine of the airplane as it climbed from the runway.

Another pilot spotted what he thought was a campfire near the end of the airstrip and flew over to see why someone had started it close to the airstrip. He discovered the accident airplane had impacted terrain and a postcrash fire ensued. Personnel on the ground attempted to reach the accident site but due to thick terrain they could not locate it. A pilot in a Piper PA-18 airplane attempted to guide ground personnel from the air, but due to wind and turbulence was unable to circle the accident site. He elected to circle the wreckage and would advance his throttle over the site to indicate to the personnel on the ground where the wreckage was located. He reported that if he attempted to maneuver over the wreckage the turbulence would have made the airplane uncontrollable.

The wreckage was located about 2,400 ft from the airstrip, abeam the departure end on a north heading. A postcrash fire consumed most of the airplane aft of the firewall.  

A detailed wreckage examination is pending recovery.