# NTSB ANC03LA086: Cessna 185, N913SM, Tyonek, AK, July 29, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2003, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Coordinates: 61, -151.433334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0000&lon=-151.4333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA086

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a swerve and nose down.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

The solo private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane.  During the accident landing, the airplane veered left, the left float submerged, the left wing struck the water, and the airplane nosed down and sank.  The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.  According to the pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 2003, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N913SM, sustained substantial damage when the left wing struck the water following a loss of control during landing on a remote lake, located about 28 miles northwest of Tyonek, 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 solo private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated about 1430 from another remote lake located about 36 miles northwest of Tyonek.  No flight plan was filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings on three different lakes that are located within a five mile radius of each other.  He said that while landing to the west on Coal Creek Lake, the airplane "veered quickly southeast", the left float submerged, the left wing struck the water, and the airplane nosed down, and sank.  The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

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

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N913SM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N913SM-2006-07-06), registration cancelled 2006-07-06, S/N 185-0091, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185
- Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-0091
- Airframe hours: 4170
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Osprey Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2003, 70 hours before
- Departed: Tyonek, AK
- Destination: Tyonek, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 20030729037369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030729037369A), Jul 29, 2003: Cessna 185, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While practicing glassy water landings at coal creek lake (approximately 55 miles north-northwest of tyonek, Alaska), upon landing, the aircraft turned…

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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