Cessna 185 N93018

Summary

On 1 July 1993 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N93018, operated by Johnson, Gerald D., was involved in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 1993 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Anderson Lake (OAK1)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N93018

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Johnson, Gerald D.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC93FA107

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY (WATERWAY). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE COMMENCED THE WATER TAKEOFF FROM THE GENERAL AREA ON THE LAKE THAT HE NORMALLY DID AND THAT THE TAKEOFF RUN, USING TWO NOTCHES OF FLAP, AND THE LIFT OFF POINT WERE ROUTINE. NOT ALL OF THE AVAILABLE LAKE AREA WAS USED FOR THE TAKEOFF. THE PLANE CARRIED APPROXIMATELY 75 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER, EACH WEIGHING UNDER 175 POUNDS, A FISHING TACKLE BOX AND A SMALL SURVIVAL BAG. AS THE PLANE CLIMBED TO THE HEIGHT OF THE TREES AT THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING SHORELINE, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND WHICH REQUIRED A MOMENTARY FLIGHT CONTROL INPUT TO COUNTER. HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE SENSATION THAT THE PLANE HAD ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE REALIZED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK SHOWED THAT PRIOR TO JULY 1993, HIS LAST FLIGHT IN N93018 OCCURRED IN JUNE 1992. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THE PLANE'S ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.