Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 185F N60859

19 June 1997 · Sitka, Alaska, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 19 June 1997 at about 22:40 local time, a Cessna 185F registered N60859 was involved in an accident near Sitka, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 22:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Coordinates
56.7293, -135.0006
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Registration
N60859
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Instructional
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
ANC97LA086

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

failure of the pilot(s) to properly flare the airplane during a simulated forced landing. The excessive rate of descent on final approach was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated commercial pilot (first pilot) was receiving training in preparation for a CFR Part 135 check ride in a float equipped airplane. The company's chief pilot (second pilot), was seated in the right front seat of the airplane. The second pilot briefed the first pilot about a training maneuver that was a simulated engine failure after takeoff from the water. After takeoff with 20 degrees of flaps selected, the second pilot pulled the engine throttle to idle about 60 to 100 feet above the water. The first pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and descended for landing. The first pilot landed the airplane on the water in a level attitude, but with an excessive rate of descent. The front float strut attach points separated from the fuselage, and the front of the fuselage pivoted downward, coming to rest on the front float spreader bar. The airplane received wrinkling damage to the fuselage aft of the float attach points.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 185 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Apr 1997 Cessna 185D
N285BG
Wetumpka, Alabama, United States Richard Meyer No injuries -
31 Oct 1997 Cessna 185F
N61500
Barrow, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
23 Oct 1997 Cessna 185A
N714
Damascus, Oregon, United States Roger C. Snyder Fatal 2
5 Oct 1997 Cessna 185F
N17SR
Oakland, California, United States - No injuries -
25 Jul 1997 Cessna 185
N8717Z
Norway, Maine, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
9 Apr 1997 Cessna 185
N59AK
Tatitlek, Alaska, United States - Fatal 2

All 1,004 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
23 Oct 1997 Piper PA-32-300
N30505
Juneau, Alaska, United States - Fatal 2
20 Oct 1997 Cessna 208B
N9304F
Kasigluk, Alaska, United States Peninsula Airways Inc. No injuries -
3 Oct 1997 Piper PA-22-160
N8955D
Sterling, Alaska, United States - Fatal 1
12 Oct 1997 Cessna 182B
N7269E
Palmer, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
15 Oct 1997 Bell 206-B2
N86TA
Sutton, Alaska, United States - No injuries -
21 Oct 1997 Piper PA-20
N7049K
Naknek, Alaska, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States