# Accident 20190822012139A: Cessna A185F, Rangeley, ME, August 22, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 22, 2019, 14:30 local time
- Place: Rangeley, ME
- Airport: Rangeley Lake
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6932° N, 69.3811° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6932&lon=-69.3811&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1920Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1920Q) (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 A185F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 23,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA513](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA513) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190822012139A

## Narrative

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

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, TWO WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAXIING INTO THE SEAPLANE DOCK AND STRIKING SUBMERGED ROCKS APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS FROM THE DOCK.  THE AIRCRAFT COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP.  AFTERWARD THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TAXI TO THE DOCK.  ONE WITNESS STATED THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT BETWEEN TWO BLACK/WHITE HAZARD BUOYS NEAR THE SHORELINE OF RUSSELL COVE.  SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE DOCK, THE PILOT BOARDED ONE PASSENGER FOR A PART 91 FLIGHT TO BGR.  WITNESS STATEMENTS AND A VIDEO RECORDING OF THE DEPARTURE BOTH CONFIRM THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING AIRBORNE AT APPROXIMATELY 30', THEN GOING RIGHT WING LOW ALL THE WAY INTO THE WATER.  ON SCENE INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, INDICATES KEEL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FLOAT, THE WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS WERE COMPROMISED WITH VISIBLE DAMAGE ABOVE THE STEP AND WATERLINE ON THE LEFT FLOAT WITH WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENTS COMPROMISED.   THE PILOT, DESPITE HIS FACIAL INJURIES, STATED HE SUMPED THE RIGHT FLOAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THE FLOAT WAS "DRY".

## 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 GAA19CA513](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA513), Aug 22, 2019: Cessna A185 (N1920Q), Rangeley Lake, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the floats, which led to his subsequent attempt to depart from a lake with damaged floats and led to a loss of roll control and the right wing impacting…

## Other reports on N1920Q (1)

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

- [Accident 19891129047679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891129047679A), Nov 29, 1989: Cessna A185F (N1920Q), Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. Last observed on final. Found later,crashed off side of runway. Pilot left scene. Aircraft reported stolen.

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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