# Accident 20240824020739A: Cessna A185F, Kent, WA, August 24, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 2024, 10:52 local time
- Place: Kent, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3644° N, 122.1536° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3644&lon=-122.1536&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61323, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61323) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24FA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA285) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240824020739A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS LANDING ON A LAKE, WHERE HE RESIDED WITH HIS AMPHIBIOUS C-185. HE WAS OBSERVED BY A NEIGHBOR, ALSO A PILOT TO ENTER THE DOWNWIND TO THE LAKE WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED BELOW THE FLOATS. THE PIL0T HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A LAND AIRPORT APPROXIMATLET 10 M INUTES EARLIER. THE NEIGHBOR WATCHED THE WHOLE APPROACH TO TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER. THE NEIGHBOR SIAD THE APPROACH LOOKED NORMAL FOR SPEED AND GLIDEPATH. HE SAID THE MINUTE THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE WATER, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED FORWARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN THE WATER. THE NEIGHBOR THEN TOOK A FRIENDS BOAT TO THE POLICE DOCK TO PICK UP SOME WATER RESCUE PEOPLE. THEY THEN PROCEDDED TO THE AIRCRAFT, ARRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 10 MINUTES LATER. HE SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL BOATS ALREADY ON SCENE TRYING TO EXTRICATE THE PILOT.

## 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 WPR24FA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA285), Aug 24, 2024: Cessna A185F (N61323), Kent, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly configure the amphibious landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a touchdown on the water with the wheels extended, noseover, and airplane submersion.

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.