Cessna 185 N1966U

Summary

On 5 October 2001 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N1966U was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one 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

5 October 2001 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.3833, -153.8583

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N1966U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Alsworth → Anchorage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA003

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's excessive descent rate and subsequent hard landing during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor in the accident was glassy water conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane on the surface of a remote lake. The water surface was smooth and glassy. The pilot said he touched down too fast, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who was wearing an inflatable jacket, exited the inverted airplane and got onto the floats. The airplane sank in about two minutes. The pilot then swam for about 40 minutes to the shore. The pilot said the airplane is resting in about 250 feet of water, and has not been recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.