# Accident 20080724841559A: Cessna 185F, Shelton, WA, July 24, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 24, 2008, 14:30 local time
- Place: Shelton, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.2639° N, 123.3331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2639&lon=-123.3331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6320N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6320N-2013-02-07) (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: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 403 total, 45 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08FA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA244) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080724841559A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 24TH, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 2130Z (1430 PDT) REGISTERED AIRCRAFT # N6320N, A CESSNA 185F ON FLOATS, WAS PILOTED BY A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT.  WEATHER AT THE TIME WAS CLEAR, WITH CALM WINDS, AND AN APPROXIMATE TEMPERATURE OF 77 DEGREE (F).  WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERED AROUND THE LAKE FOR THE THREE PASSES (CIRCLES) ON THE WATER FOR UNCONFIRMED PURPOSES BY THE PILOT.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED LAKE NAHWATZEL, WHICH IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES WEST OF THE TOWN OF SHELTON, WASHINGTON, ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 340 DEGREES (M).  WITNESS STATEMENTS NOTED THE LOUD NOISE OF THE AIRCRAFT AS IT ACCELERATED ON THE WATER.  THOUGH LOUD, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL WITH NO MISFIRING, AND APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING FULL POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED FROM THE WATER AND ROTATED TO WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.  THIS WAS HELD TO CLEAR THE TALL TREES AT THE NORTHWEST SHORE OF THE LAKE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN IN A LEFT TURN.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND INVERTED, AT .14 MILES FROM THE NORTHWEST SHORELINE OF THE LAKE.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT.  A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE WRECKAGE.

## 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 LAX08FA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA244), Jul 24, 2008: Cessna A185F (N6320N), Shelton, WA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain and maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Other reports on N6320N (1)

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

- [Accident 19810901060599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810901060599A), Sep 1, 1981: Cessna A185F (N6320N), Lake Arthur, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft wing hit pole during takeoff causing substantial 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.

---
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.