Cessna A185F N3308S

Summary

On 21 May 2025 at about 05:42 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N3308S was involved in an accident near Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2025 at 05:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Trapper Creek, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.1489, -150.8563

Aircraft

Cessna A185F

Registration

N3308S

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA057

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper flare while landing on glassy water, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, as he approached his intended landing site in a float-equipped airplane, there were overcast sky conditions, light rain, and a glassy water surface on the remote lake. While on approach to the lake he lost depth perception and landed hard on the water which resulted in damage to the float riggings. He performed a go-around and on the second attempt to land the float rigging failed and the airplane came to rest inverted in the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.