# NTSB ANC02LA003: Cessna 185, N1966U, Port Alsworth, AK, October 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2001, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Port Alsworth, AK - Coordinates: 60.383335, -153.858337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3833&lon=-153.8583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53645 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53645/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive descent rate and subsequent hard landing during the landing flare/touchdown. A factor in the accident was glassy water conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane on the surface of a remote lake. The water surface was smooth and glassy. The pilot said he touched down too fast, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, who was wearing an inflatable jacket, exited the inverted airplane and got onto the floats. The airplane sank in about two minutes. The pilot then swam for about 40 minutes to the shore. The pilot said the airplane is resting in about 250 feet of water, and has not been recovered. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2001, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1966U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the surface of Lake Clark, about 18 miles northeast of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Miller Creek on Lake Clark, about 1020. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 18, 2001, the pilot reported he just departed his cabin on Lake Clark, and was flying over the lake toward Anchorage. The pilot said the surface of the lake was smooth and glassy, and he decided to conduct some landings on Lake Clark. He said that during the landing approach, he did not have any shore reference and misjudged the water surface. The pilot said he inadvertently touched down too fast, and the airplane nosed over in the water. The pilot, who was wearing an inflatable jacket, exited the inverted airplane and got onto the floats. The airplane sank in about two minutes. The pilot then swam for about 40 minutes to the shore. The pilot said the airplane is resting in about 250 feet of water, and has not been recovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1966U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1966U-2012-08-20), registration cancelled 2012-08-20, S/N 18501689 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501689 - Airframe hours: 2700 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: DAVID E. McRAE - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2001, 120 hours before - Departed: PORT ALSWORTH, AK - Destination: PALH, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011005037389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011005037389A), Oct 5, 2001: Cessna 185E, Portalsworth, AK, No damage. (-23) On October 5, 2001 at about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1966U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with… 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. --- 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.