# Accident 19970830024949A: Cessna A185F, Kotzebue, AK, August 30, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 1997, 19:50 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: M9UC
- Location: 67.2400° N, 161.1898° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2400&lon=-161.1898&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93276, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93276) (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: 5,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA136) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970830024949A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT LANDING THE TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A 600 FEET LONG X 75 FEET WIDE GRAVEL LANDING AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OFF-AIRPORT SITE WAS TOO SHORT TO STOP, SO HE ATTEMPTED TO GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE END INTO A DROP OFF. THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT STABILIZER CONTACTED THE GROUND.

## 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 ANC97LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA136), Aug 31, 1997: Cessna 185F (N93276), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor was the short length of the off-airport site.

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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