# Accident 19890304003079A: Cessna STC185, Bellingham, WA, March 4, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 1989, 16:52 local time
- Place: Bellingham, WA
- Airport: Bellingham International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.7900° N, 122.4108° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7900&lon=-122.4108&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79PK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79PK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA STC185
- Reported engine: CONT IO520*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,900 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA89LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890304003079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

IMPACTED SHORT OF RUNWAY. HIT VASI AND REIL LIGHTS. HAD ICE ON AIRFRAME. NO WX BRIEFING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA89LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA054), Mar 5, 1989: Cessna 185 (N79PK), Bellingham, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF LIFT DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE WINGS, HIS FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT, AND POOR INFLIGHT DECISION MAKING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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