# NTSB ANC11LA068: Cessna 185, N9852X, Kenai, AK, July 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2011, 18:00 local (Jul 25, 2011, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.586666, -151.646667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5867&lon=-151.6467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 81206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81206/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81206 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA068 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, resulting in the ditching and sinking of the airplane in ocean waters. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was on an over-water leg of a cross-country flight, when the engine went to low idle rpm. Unable to restore sufficient power to remain airborne, he landed the float-equipped airplane in large ocean swells, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane landed hard, and the floats separated from the airplane. The airplane sank, and was not recovered. It is unknown what precipitated the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2011, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N9852X, sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during a hard landing in ocean swells, about 22 miles southwest of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Bear Lake, Alaska about 1630, bound for Kenai. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 24, the pilot said while in cruise flight about 3000 feet above the waters of the Cook Inlet, the airplane's engine went to idle. He said he attempted to restore power, but was not successful, and he attempted a landing in Cook Inlet. The pilot said there were 6 foot high swells, and the airplane bounced off the first swell, and dove into the next. He said the floats tore loose from the fuselage, and the airplane impacted the water. The occupants of the airplane were wearing personal flotation devices, and exited the airplane. The pilot said after being rescued, only the tail of the airplane remained above the water, about 5 miles from shore. No efforts were made to save the airplane, and the wreckage has not been recovered. He said prior to the accident, there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9852X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9852X-2017-09-29), registration cancelled 2017-09-29, S/N 185-0052, 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 I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0052 - Airframe hours: 3478 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Johannes Scott - Registered owner: Johannes Scott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2011 - Departed: Bear Lake, AK - Destination: PAEN, Kenai, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 598 total, 431 in this make and model, 598 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast ## 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 20110724016299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110724016299A), Jul 24, 2011: Cessna 185, Kenai, AK, Destroyed. Pilot reports that without prior indication or warning, loss of engine power. RPM and fuel flow at less than normal idle RPM and fuel flow, no throttle or… ## Other investigations on N9852X (3) 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 CHI67D0634](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0634), Apr 9, 1967: Cessna 185 (N9852X), Sycamore, IL, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC66F0192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66F0192), Aug 27, 1965: Cessna 185 (N9852X), Fairbury, NE, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X1640](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1640), May 6, 1964: Cessna 185 (N9852X), Flint, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81206. 482 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353679&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. --- 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.