# NTSB ANC03CA089: Cessna 185, N185TB, Iliamna, AK, August 6, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2003, 07:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Iliamna, AK
- Coordinates: 59.200553, -154.933883
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.2006&lon=-154.9339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA089

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The private pilot was departing from a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane.  During the initial climb, the airplane's right float struck the shoreline of the lake.  The airplane subsequently nosed over on the bank of the lake, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.  The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On August 6, 2003, about 0700 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N185TB, sustained substantial damage when it struck the shoreline of a remote lake during takeoff, about 35 miles south of Iliamna, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the accident lake about 0655 and was en route to another remote lake.  No flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 6, the pilot reported that while departing to the east, during the initial climb, the airplane's right float struck the shoreline of the lake.  The airplane subsequently nosed over on the bank of the lake, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

According to the pilot there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185TB), registered now, S/N 18504008, built 1980 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504008
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas K. Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ILI, Iliamna, AK
- Destination: ILI, Iliamna, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,250 total, 900 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20030806037129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806037129A), Aug 6, 2003: Cessna A185F, Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft crashed immediately after lift off at crosswind lake, south of lake ilimna in Alaska. The pilot and two passengers received no injuries.…

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.

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