Cessna 185 N59AK
9 April 1997 · Tatitlek, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 April 1997 at about 20:55 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N59AK was involved in an accident near Tatitlek, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tatitlek, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 60.8801, -146.6508
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185
- Registration
- N59AK
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC97FA051
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The command pilots of both airplanes inadequate visual outlook which led to their failure to see and avoid each other's airplane. A factor associated with the accident was sunglare.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The two airplanes collided while engaged in fish spotting in a rural area of Alaska. The pilot and observer of the Cessna 185, N59AK, said they were cruising over water at 2,000 feet msl in straight and level flight, about to exit a bay. They said they did not see the other airplane until an instant before impact, and that the Bellanca, N5025K, seemed to approach them from slightly below, and slightly to the right, or about their 1 o'clock position. The pilot related that he does not recall a conscious effort to avoid the collision, but that he probably 'instinctively' pulled back on the wheel. The Bellanca fell nearly straight into the sea. The Cessna pilot said the right float was slashed by the Bellanca's propeller. A portion of the Bellanca's right wing fuel tank was found imbedded in the right float of the Cessna. Both airplanes have high wings. The pilot of the Cessna said the weather was clear and sunny, with reflected sunglare from the water and snow covered mountains.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 185 185 | N59AK | - | Minor |
| Bellanca 8GCBC 8GCBC | N5025K | Ronald J. Gribble | Destroyed |
Other Cessna 185 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1997 | Cessna 185D | Wetumpka, Alabama, United States | Richard Meyer | No injuries | - |
| 31 Oct 1997 | Cessna 185F | Barrow, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 1997 | Cessna 185A | Damascus, Oregon, United States | Roger C. Snyder | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Oct 1997 | Cessna 185F | Oakland, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 1997 | Cessna 185 | Norway, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1997 | Cessna 185 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
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 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Oct 1997 | Cessna 208B | Kasigluk, Alaska, United States | Peninsula Airways Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 1997 | Piper PA-22-160 | Sterling, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Oct 1997 | Cessna 182B | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1997 | Bell 206-B2 | Sutton, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Oct 1997 | Piper PA-20 | Naknek, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |