# Accident 19980529016039A: Cessna A185E, Kotzebue, AK, May 29, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 1998, 14:30 local time
- Place: Kotzebue, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.2396° N, 161.1895° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2396&lon=-161.1895&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4761Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4761Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,230 total, 1,005 in this make and model, 89 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98TA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98TA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980529016039A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE FIRST PILOT, A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WAS PROVIDING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AND RECURRENT TRAINING TO THE SECOND PILOT, A CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT. THE FIRST PILOT SAID THAT TWO SUCCESSFUL LANDINGS WERE ACCOMPLISHED ON THE SAME SAND BAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  ON THE LAST APPROACH TO THE SOUTH, AND WHILE THE SECOND PILOT WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, AND LANDED IN A RIVER JUST SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN ABOUT 3 FEET OF WATER.  BOTH PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 180 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.                                     (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #ANC98TA062

## 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 ANC98TA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98TA062), May 29, 1998: Cessna 185 (N4761Q), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor associated with this accident was a downdraft prior to touchdown.

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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