Cessna 185 N4761Q

Summary

On 29 May 1998 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N4761Q was involved in an accident near Kotzebue, 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

29 May 1998 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

67.2396, -161.1895

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N4761Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kotzebue → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98TA062

2 people had minor injuries.

The instructor pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor associated with this accident was a downdraft prior to touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The first pilot, a certificated flight instructor, was providing flight instruction and recurrent training to the second pilot, a certificated commercial pilot. The first pilot said that two successful landings were accomplished on the same sand bar prior to the accident. On the last approach to the south, and while the second pilot was manipulating the controls, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and landed in a river just short of the intended touchdown point. The airplane came to rest upside down in about 3 feet of water. Both pilots reported that the wind at the time of the accident was about 180 degrees at 10 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.