# NTSB ANC02TA045: Cessna 185, N749, Kaktovik, AK, June 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 7, 2002, 16:30 local (Jun 8, 2002, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Kaktovik, AK - Coordinates: 70.120079, -143.659255 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.1201&lon=-143.6593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, O.A.S. - NTSB case key (mKey): 54887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02TA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02TA045 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions during landing at a remote lake, resulting in a downwind landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the presence of a tailwind, and an icy lake surface. ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing a wheel/ski-equipped airplane on a remote ice-covered lake. He was concluding a public use caribou tracking flight. The pilot estimated there was about 1,500 feet of usable landing area. The pilot landed toward the west with the skis extended, but began sliding on the icy surface toward an area of open water along the shore of the lake. The pilot initiated a left turn and applied engine power. The airplane's right wing and right elevator struck the ice. The airplane received damage to the right wingtip, right aileron, and the right elevator. After landing, the pilot discovered the wind was from the east about 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2002, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N749, sustained substantial damage when the right wing struck the ice-covered surface of a remote lake during the landing roll, about 45 miles southwest of Kaktovik, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area public use flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on June 10, an investigator with the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, Boise, Idaho, reported that the pilot was landing toward the west on a remote lake at the conclusion of a caribou tracking flight. The pilot estimated there was about 1,500 feet of usable landing area. The pilot landed with the skis extended, and began sliding on the icy surface toward an area of open water near the shore. The investigator reported that the pilot initiated a left turn and applied engine power. The airplane's right wing and right elevator struck the ice. The airplane received damage to the right wingtip, right aileron, and the right elevator. After landing, the pilot discovered the wind was from the east about 7 knots. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N749](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N749), registered now, S/N 18504354, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504354 - Airframe hours: 7680 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service - Registered owner: U.S. Department Of Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 2002, 81 hours before - Departed: PABA, KAKTOVIK, AK - Destination: CANNING RIVER, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 10, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 7,300 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 7,200 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg ## 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 20020607010749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020607010749A), Jun 7, 2002: Cessna A185F, Barter Island, AK, No damage. (.19) On June 7, 2002, about 1815 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N749, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54887. 693 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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.