Cessna A185 N5454E

Summary

On 15 May 2020 at about 06:00 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N5454E, operated by Webster James M, was involved in an accident near Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 May 2020 at 06:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Nuiqsut, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

70.7353, -153.7378

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N5454E

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Webster James M

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nuiqsut → Nuiqsut

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC20LA046

1 person died.

The pilot’s controlled flight into flat snow-covered terrain in weather conditions that were conducive to flat light conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a commercial flight in his wheel/ski-equipped airplane with one passenger onboard in support of an arctic research project. He had overflown a potential landing site on a snow-and-ice-covered lake at a low altitude, and the area was determined to be unsuitable for landing. According to the passenger, after overflying the area the pilot initiated a left turn, toward the shoreline to return to their destination and subsequently impacted the ground. GPS data from the accident flight revealed that the airplane flew along the north shore of the lake at a GPS altitude of about 136 ft variable to 232 ft before initiating a left turn and descending until it impacted terrain. The passenger stated that the pilot had not voiced any concerns before the accident with regard to any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation and the plane sounded “good” during the accident flight. While the passenger reported a cabin and potential vegetation and terrain features visible in the left turn just before impact, it is likely that cloud conditions and snow-covered terrain present in the area resulted in flat light conditions, which would have hindered the pilot’s ability to perceive terrain features and closure rates.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.