# Accident 19980609020289A: Cessna A185E, Chickaloon, AK, June 9, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 1998, 12:00 local time
- Place: Chickaloon, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EMWC
- Location: 61.7392° N, 148.2196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7392&lon=-148.2196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9855X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9855X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 185 (registry code 2072802, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,105 total, 250 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609020289A

## Narrative

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

TRANSPORTING PERSONS AN CARGO TO BASE CAMP ON A GLACIER. ENGINE QUIT ON FINAL. HARD LANDING SHORT OF LANDING AREA. (.4)THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS LANDING AT 6900 FEET MSL ON THE MATANUSKA GLACIER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL FOR LANDING, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST.  ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, ABOUT 500 FEET SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCH DOWN POINT.  THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT REPORTED IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT AFTER LANDING AND WHILE SECURING THE COCKPIT CONTROLS, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL BOOST SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE 'HIGH BOOST' POSITIONS.  THE CESSNA PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, STATES, IN PART:  'IF THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP SWITCH IS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION, A FUEL/AIR RATIO CONSIDERABLY RICHER THAN BEST POWER IS PRODUCED UNLESS THE MIXTURE IS LEANED.' (-23) ON JUNE 9, 1998, AT 1200 ADT, A WHEEL SKI EQUIPPED CESSNA 185, AIRCRAFT N9855X, SUSTAINED DAMAGE LANDING ON THE MATUNUSKA GLACIER AT 6900' MSL, THE PILOT STATED WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, DAMAGING THE PROPELLER AND FUSELAGE AT THE GEAR ATTACH AREA  . THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS IN THE HIGH POSITION WHEN HE WAS SHUTTING THE SWITCHES OFF BEFORE EVACUATING THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SPECULATED THIS MAY HAVE FLOODED THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH HE DOES NOT REMEMBER TURNING ON THE BOOST PUMP. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO THE TALKEETNA AIRPORT, AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONTROLS, AND FLUID LINES WAS MADE. THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE PILOT RECEIVED A SCHEDULED CHECK RIDE ON 06/15/98. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED, AND EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND LANDINGS DURING THE CHECK RIDE.

## 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 ANC98LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA067), Jun 9, 1998: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Chickaloon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent activation of the fuel boost pump selector switch during final approach, which resulted in an overly rich mixture and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N9855X (2)

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

- [Accident 19970723019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970723019519A), Jul 23, 1997: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on takeoff. (.19) on July 23, 1997, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 ski equipped airplane, N9855X, sustained substantial damage when it…
- [Accident 19800718031489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800718031489A), Jul 18, 1980: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Collinsville, AK, No damage

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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