# Accident 19980617013979A: Cessna 185, Big Lake, AK, June 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1998, 18:10 local time
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Airport: Big Lake Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4592° N, 150.0906° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4592&lon=-150.0906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9982X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9982X-2012-11-27) (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 185
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 746 total, 6 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980617013979A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJ, ACFT DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, ANCHORAGE, AK. (.4) WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE ENTERING A STEEP RIGHT BANK TOWARD THEM FROM LEVEL FLIGHT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. A COMMERCIAL PILOT WITNESS IN THE GROUP, WHO ESTIMATED THE BANK TO BE 120 DEGREES, SAID THE AIRPLANE REVERSED DIRECTION, AND LEVELED OUT PRIOR TO STRIKING TREES. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT HAD MOVED TO ALASKA WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS, AND WAS DESCRIBED BY HIS EMPLOYER AS EXCITED TO LEARN TO BE A BUSH PILOT. HE HAD ACCUMULATED SIX HOURS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE OWNER IN HIS FLOAT EQUIPPED 300 HORSEPOWER CESSNA 185, ALL IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK. (-23) AT 300 AGL, THE PILOT ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT INTO A RIGHT BANK WHICH EXCEEDED 90 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE.

## 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 ANC98FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98FA079), Jun 18, 1998: Cessna 185 (N9982X), Big Lake, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's performance of a low level maneuver. Factors were the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability, his lack of experience in the type of airplane, and his failure to maintain adequate…

## Other reports on N9982X (4)

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

- [Incident 19860302022539I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860302022539I), Mar 2, 1986: Cessna STC185 (N9982X), Mcgrath, AK, Minor damage. Damage to wing during taxi on ice with skis. Removed wingtip and continued to operate aircraft.
- [Accident 19821029057759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821029057759A), Oct 29, 1982: Cessna 185 (N9982X), Stony River, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on a snow packed runway. Struck a snow ridge and flipped over.
- [Incident 19790929049619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790929049619I), Sep 29, 1979: Cessna 185 (N9982X), Farewell, AK, Minor damage. Pilot taxiing in gusty wind allowed wing and tail to come up, damaged the prop.
- [Accident 19750824029349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750824029349A), Aug 24, 1975: Cessna 185 (N9982X), Farewell, AK, Substantial damage. Plt stated seat latch failed & seat slid to rear

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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