20030629037229A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna A185E · Bell Island, AK · June 29, 2003

Date: June 29, 2003 · 09:00 local
Place: Bell Island, AK
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N48061
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA064
Reported as: Cessna A185E
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 350 total5 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N48061Registered now · Cessna A185ES/N 185-1084 · Built 1966 Airframe modelCessna A185E Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On 6/29/03 at approximately 0900, N48061 was observed flying 20 ft above a group of fishing boats near Bell Island, AK. Shortly after passing the boats, the pilot pitched up severely, climbing momentarily, and then ultimately stalled and plummeted to the water uncontrolled from a height of approximately 100FT. The aircraft came to rest inverted and mostly submerged. The pilot and sole passenger exited the aircraft, the pilot with substantial injuries, the passenger with minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 6/29/03 AT APPROXIMATELY 0900, N48061 WAS OBSERVED FLYING 20 FT ABOVE A GROUP OF FISHING BOATS NEAR BELL ISLAND, AK. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE BOATS, THE PILOT PITCHED UP SEVERELY, CLIMBING MOMENTARILY, AND THEN ULTIMATELY STALLED AND PLUMMETED TO THE WATER UNCONTROLLED FROM A HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 100FT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AND MOSTLY SUBMERGED. THE PILOT AND SOLE PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT WITH SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES, THE PASSENGER WITH MINOR INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC03LA064Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKetchikan, AKThe pilot's abrupt, excessive pull-up during an intentional low level maneuver, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the water.Jun 29, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N48061 · 1

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

Incident 19790619021559IOther Ground Ops · Ketchikan, AKParked float plane with missing float cap capsized when float failed with water.Jun 19, 1979 · Substantial damage