# Accident 19970223014329A: Cessna A185F, Ketchikan, AK, February 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.6099° N, 131.5808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6099&lon=-131.5808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4471R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4471R) (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
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 210 total, 90 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA078) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970223014329A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT WAS LANDING A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE NEAR AN OCEAN BAY. SMALL OCEAN SWELLS WERE PRESENT IN THE AREA OF INTENDED LANDING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE DESCENT RATE WAS EXCESSIVE, AND SHE ADDED FULL POWER TO BEGIN A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND THE FLOATS FIRMLY CONTACTED THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE THEN LIFTED OFF THE WATER, AND THE PILOT NOTICED THE UPPER RIGHT DOOR HINGE WAS BROKEN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FLOWN AGAIN OR INSPECTED UNTIL 3 MONTHS LATER. THE INSPECTION FACILITY NOTICED WRINKLING AND DISTORTION OF THE LOWER FUSELAGE, AFT OF THE FIREWALL AND UNDER THE DOORS OF THE AIRPLANE. ALL OF THE AIRPLANE'S DOOR HINGES WERE BROKEN. ADDITIONAL WRINKLING WAS OBSERVED ABOVE THE BAGGAGE DOOR, UNDER THE AFT WINDOW. THE INSPECTION FACILITY CONSIDERED THE AIRPLANE AS UNAIRWORTHY.

## 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 ANC97LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA078), Feb 23, 1997: Cessna 185F (N4471R), Ketchikan, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot allowed an excessive rate of descent to develope during an approach to land, and delayed in initiating a go-around.

## Other reports on N4471R (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20180603025069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180603025069I), Jun 3, 2018: Cessna A185F (N4471R), Hilo, HI, Minor damage. Helicopters were operating near by approach end of runway. Potential air turbulence from black hawk helicopters may have lifted right wing as pilot was in…
- [Accident 19940608014149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940608014149A), Jun 8, 1994: Cessna 185 (N4471R), Kassan Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Landing in bay crosswind lined up with swells. Weather vaned coming off step. Wing hit wave. Cartwheeled.

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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