# Accident 19961003030839A: Cessna A185F, Finley, ND, October 3, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 1996, 08:15 local time
- Place: Finley, ND
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.5093° N, 97.8302° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5093&lon=-97.8302&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185ND, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185ND) (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 A185F
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961003030839A

## Narrative

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

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM THE DOCK, LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE DOCK. (-23) SINGLE-ENGINE SEAPLANE INSTRUCTION WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT GOLDEN LAKE, ND. THE AIRCRAFT A CESSNA 185 ON AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS DEPARTED THE DOCK WITH THE WATER RUDDERS RETRACTED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TRIED TO AVOID A DOCK SUPPORT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HIT THE DOCK CAUING INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE STABILIZER WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROL SURFACE.

## 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 CHI97LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA002), Oct 3, 1996: Cessna 185 (N185ND), Finley, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure that clearance from the dock was maintained, while starting to taxi. The crosswind was a related factor.

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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