# Accident 19990919027859A: Cessna 185F, Pilot Point, AK, September 19, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 19, 1999, 10:30 local time - Place: Pilot Point, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: UKHC - Location: 57.5009° N, 157.2798° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.5009&lon=-157.2798&mi=10 - Aircraft: N60859, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60859-2001-12-31) (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 185F - Reported engine: CONT IO520D - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,200 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA147) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990919027859A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1999, ABOUT 1030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 185F AIRPLANE, N60859, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE LAKE, ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PILOT POINT, ALASKA, AT LONGITUDE 57 DEGREE, 18 MINUTES NORTH, AND LONGITUDE 157 DEGREES, 17 MINUTES WEST. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) NONSCHEDULED FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY C-AIR, KING SALMON, ALASKA. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT, AND THE SOLE PASSENGER, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. VFR COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN AFFECT. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1999, THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED AT A LAKE TO RETRIEVE MOOSE MEAT AND ANTLERS. THE LAKE IS ABOUT 1,900 FEET LONG, AND ABOUT 800 FEET WIDE. THE MEAT HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, WHEN THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED THE LAKE TOWARD THE WEST, AND LIFTED OFF ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 5 0 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND THEN ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT. THE PILOT SAIDFULL POWER WAS ALREADY APPLIED TO THE ENGINE, BUT THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO SOFT, MARSHY TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, THE RIGHT WING, AND THE LEFT WING SPAR. ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1999, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) OPERATIONS INSPECTOR, ANCHORAGE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), REPORTED HE INTERVIEWED THE HUNTING CLIENT WHO OWNED THE MOOSE MEAT. THE CLIENT INDICATED HE ARRANGED FOR THE PILOT TO PICK UP THE MEAT AND ANTLERS. THE CLIENT SAID THE MEAT WAS DIVIDED INTO 10 BAGS, EACH WEIGHING ABOUT 75 POUNDS A PIECE. (-23) PILOT WAS TAKING OFF THE LAKE AND WAS AIRBORNE WHEN HIT BY A DOWN DRAFT AND STRUCK THE WATER AND THE END OF THE LAKE AND ONTO THE BEACH. (.4) THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT LANDED AT A LAKE IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. HE WAS CONDUCTING A NONSCHEDULED AIR TAXI FLIGHT TO RETRIEVE MOOSE MEAT AND ANTLERS. HE WAS ASSISTED BY A NON-REVENUE PASSENGER. THE LAKE IS ORIENTED EAST/WEST, ABOUT 1,900 FEET LONG, AND ABOUT 800 FEET WIDE. THE MEAT HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, WHEN THE PILOT TRANSP ORTED HUNTING CLIENTS FROM THE LAKE. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE LAKE TOWARD THE WEST, AND LIFTED OFF ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE LAKE. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND THEN ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT FROM MOUNTAINS/HILLS LOCATED SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE. HE SAID FULL POWER WAS ALREADY APPLIED TO THE ENGINE, BUT THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO SOFT, MARSHY TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER ABOUT 200 TO 300 YARDS BEYOND THE WEST END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, THE RIGHT WING, AND THE LEFT WING SPAR. THE PILOT INDICATED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE, IN PART: CLOUDS AND SKY CONDITION, 2,500 FEET BROKEN; WIND, FROM THE SOUTH (180 DEGREES) AT 8 KNOTS; VISIBILITY, 25 MILES; TEMPERATURE, 50 DEGREES F; PRECIPITATION, NONE; TURBULENCE, NONE TO LIGHT. ## 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 ANC99LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA147), Sep 19, 1999: Cessna 185F (N60859), Pilot Point, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors in the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, a downdraft, and swampy terrain. ## Other reports on N60859 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19970619018419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970619018419A), Jun 19, 1997: Cessna A185F (N60859), Sitka, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The certificated commercial pilot (first pilot) was receiving training in preparation for a CFR part 135 check ride in a float equipped airplane. The… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.