# NTSB ANC09CA067: Cessna A185F, N4448R, Skwentna, AK, July 6, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2009, 19:30 local (Jul 6, 2009, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.916667, -151.583328 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9167&lon=-151.5833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA - FSDO3
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74293/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74293
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA067

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to recognize his proximity to the glassy water landing surface while flying in smoke haze, and his failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: haze/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot had a hard landing during a personal flight in a float-equipped airplane under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written report to the NTSB, the pilot stated, in part: “With the glassy water and the smoke haze I lost my depth perception and hit the water hard.” A postflight examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot wrote in his report that the accident could have been prevented by using the shoreline to determine altitude during landing. He noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot had a hard landing during a personal flight in a float-equipped airplane under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written report to the NTSB, the pilot stated, in part: “With the glassy water and the smoke haze I lost my depth perception and hit the water hard.” A postflight examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot wrote in his report that the accident could have been prevented by using the shoreline to determine altitude during landing. He noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4448R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4448R), registered now, S/N 18502960, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- 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: 18502960
- Airframe hours: 4409
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank R. Bell
- Registered owner: Frank R. Bell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2009, 12 hours before
- Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Shell Lake, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,974 total, 4,975 in this make and model, 4,974 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.50 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 20090705047569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090705047569A), Jul 5, 2009: Cessna A185F, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Float equiped aircraft landed hard on lake in glassy water conditions.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74293. 639 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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