# Accident 20200505005439A: Cessna A185E, Anchorage, AK, May 5, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2020, 19:00 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.6203° N, 148.9807° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6203&lon=-148.9807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185SZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185SZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550 series (registry code 17042, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 555 total, 244 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200505005439A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 5, 2020, THE PILOT DEPARTED HILLTOP AIRPORT, AK24, AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF N185SZ AT ABOUT 6:30 PM. HE HEADED TOWARD THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY FOR SOME PRACTICE LANDINGS AND LOW LEVEL FLYING.   AFTER A COUPLE OF SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON VARIOUS POINTS UP THE KNIK, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY ON TOP OF THE WATER .  THE PILOT CONTACTED THE WATER ON A CALM PART OF THE RIVER ON THE RIGHT MAIN FIRST' AND THEN SET THE LEFT MAIN ON THE WATER AT AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 90 MPH' WHILE FOLLOWING THE RIVER.  DRAG FROM THE GEAR WAS GREATER THAT THE THRUST AVAILABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER' AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.

## 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 ANC20CA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA049), May 6, 2020: Cessna 185 (N185SZ), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to attempt to " water ski" atop a remote river in a wheel-equipped airplane, resulting in a loss of control and a nose over.

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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