What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On October 5, 2001 at about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1966U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the surface of lake clark, about 18 miles northeast of port alsworth, Alaska. The flight originated at miller creek on lake clark, about 1030. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules part 91, personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported he departed his cabin at miller creek and was flying northeast. During descent to land at the northeast end of lake the floats inadvertently contacted the water and the airplane inverted and sank. The pilot, who was wearing a flotation jacket, said he exited the airplane and swam to shore. The airplane is resting in about 250 feet of water and has not been recovered. Form will be updated upon receipt of written pilot statement.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON OCTOBER 5, 2001 AT ABOUT 1030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 185 AIRPLANE, N1966U, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE SURFACE OF LAKE CLARK, ABOUT 18 MILES NORTHEAST OF PORT ALSWORTH, ALASKA. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT MILLER CREEK ON LAKE CLARK, ABOUT 1030. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PART 91, PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE PILOT REPORTED HE DEPARTED HIS CABIN AT MILLER CREEK AND WAS FLYING NORTHEAST. DURING DESCENT TO LAND AT THE NORTHEAST END OF LAKE THE FLOATS INADVERTENTLY CONTACTED THE WATER AND THE AIRPLANE INVERTED AND SANK. THE PILOT, WHO WAS WEARING A FLOTATION JACKET, SAID HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE AND SWAM TO SHORE. THE AIRPLANE IS RESTING IN ABOUT 250 FEET OF WATER AND HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED. FORM WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF WRITTEN PILOT STATEMENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.