# NTSB ANC07LA100: Cessna 185, N3306R, Pedro Bay, AK, August 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2007, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Pedro Bay, AK - Coordinates: 59.6686111111111, -153.133611111111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6686&lon=-153.1336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA100 ## Probable cause The loss of control during the landing roll for an unknown reason. ## 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 - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The commercial pilot was landing at a remote tidal beach site. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left, towards the water, and the pilot was unable to correct the veer. The airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear leg collapsed, and the right wing struck the surface of the beach. The airplane's right wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was not recovered before being subjected to numerous tide cycles, and the airplane was damaged extensively before a postaccident inspection could be accomplished. In his written statement to the NTSB, the pilot wrote, in part: "I suspect the tail wheel malfunctioned." ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2007, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N3306R, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off-airport site about 40 miles southeast of Pedro Bay, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) other work use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned and operated by Rainbow Bay Resort, Pedro Bay. The commercial pilot and the four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Pedro Bay Airport about 0830. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 14, the pilot reported that he was landing at a remote tidal beach site, adjacent to the ocean waters of Cook Inlet. He said that after an uneventful landing the airplane began to veer to the left, towards the water, and he was unable to correct the veer. The airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear leg collapsed, and the right wing struck the beach, receiving substantial damage. The airplane was not recovered before being subjected to numerous tide cycles, and the airplane was damaged extensively before a postaccident inspection could be accomplished. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB, dated August 20, "I suspect the tail wheel malfunctioned." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3306R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3306R-2011-02-22), registration cancelled 2011-02-22, S/N 18502870, built 1975 (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: 18502870 - Airframe hours: 4668.7 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D-24 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rainbow Bay Resort, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 75 hours before - Departed: Pedro Bay, AK - Destination: Pedro Bay, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 12,400 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,400 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20070810021229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070810021229A), Aug 10, 2007: Cessna A185F, Pedro Bay, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While landing at dry bay, the pilot's [privacy data omitted] 185 tail began to pull to the right. The pilot [privacy data omitted] applied left rudder… ## Other investigations on N3306R (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 FTW87LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA081), Mar 13, 1987: Cessna 185A (N3306R), Midland, TX, substantial damage 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.