Cessna 185 N48061

Summary

On 29 June 2003 at about 16:45 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N48061, operated by Gary G. Boles, was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

29 June 2003 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.9139, -131.5761

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N48061

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary G. Boles

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ketchikan → Bell Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA064

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's abrupt, excessive pull-up during an intentional low level maneuver, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot, with the airplane owner as the passenger, was maneuvering a float-equipped airplane near several boats. The occupants of the airplane said that they intended to land near the boats to inquire about fishing. The pilot reported that after flying by several boats, he attempted a landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane was "thrown back up into the air sharply." The passenger reported that the pilot was making a no-flap landing when the floats hit a submerged log. The passenger indicated that the pilot pulled the airplane upward into the air, but it then stalled, about 75 feet above the water. The airplane descended, nose down, collided with the water and then inverted. Occupants of the nearby boats came to the aid of the pilot and passenger. An FAA inspector contacted several witnesses who were occupants of the boats. One witness indicated that the accident airplane was observed to fly over other boats in the area at an altitude of 25 feet. The airplane continued at that height for about 150 yards and then suddenly pulled straight up, exceeding 90 degrees vertical. The airplane then rolled and descended to the water from about 100 feet. The witness indicated that the airplane did not touch down on the water before the sudden pull up. A second witness reported to the FAA that the accident airplane flew directly over several boats at an altitude of about 15 to 30 feet. The airplane continued to fly level for a short distance and then suddenly pitched straight up. Seconds later, the airplane stalled and descended to the water. The witness indicated that the airplane did not strike an object in the water because it never got lower than 15 to 30 feet when it buzzed the boats.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.