# NTSB ANC23FA001: Cessna A185F, N217C, Fairbanks, AK, October 6, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: October 5, 2022, 17:58 local (Oct 6, 2022, 01:58 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK · Float Pond - Coordinates: 64.812908, -147.92137 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8129&lon=-147.9214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23FA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA001 ## Probable cause The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributing to the fatal injury of the pilot was the improperly secured cargo, which prevented the pilot from egressing the airplane following the nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the float-equipped airplane was departing from a pond. He aborted the first attempt and was taxiing back to attempt a second takeoff. Witnesses saw the floats almost fully submerged under the water as the airplane taxied and stated that the pitch attitude of the airplane was unusually nose-low. The pilot reduced engine power and the airplane nosed over. The airplane was not damaged; however, several hundred pounds of unsecured cargo inside the airplane shifted during the nose-over and likely resulted in the pilot’s inability to egress and his subsequent drowning. During a postaccident examination, two unsealed holes were found under the float bumpers that would have allowed water to enter the front compartment of each float. It is likely that the front compartments in both floats filled with water and resulted in the nose-over during taxi. ## Factual narrative About 95 pounds of cargo was located in the left float hatch. A total of about 838 pounds of cargo was in the airplane. On October 05, 2022, about 1758 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N217C, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness located next to the waterway stated that the pilot attempted and subsequently aborted the first takeoff. The pilot then began taxiing back to the point of the initial takeoff run. The witness stated that the engine appeared to be operating at full power during the takeoff attempt. During the taxi back following the aborted takeoff, the airplane’s attitude was nose-low and the floats were almost completely submerged underwater. Another witness on the other side of the float pond noted that the accident airplane’s floats looked almost fully submerged under water as the airplane taxied. The witness said that the airplane was using more than normal power to taxi in the water and that the elevators appeared to be in the full nose-up position. He then heard the engine power decrease, saw the airplane start to nose over, heard the power increase, and then observed the airplane completely nose over into the water. When the airplane was pulled up on the shore, a witness observed four large streams of water coming out of the front of both floats. Unrestrained cargo in the cabin shifted forward during the event sequence and rescuers were unable to free the pilot from the cockpit. About 690 pounds of cargo had to be removed before rescuers could free the pilot from the airplane. The airplane sustained no impact damage in the accident. All damage to the airframe was sustained during the recovery and rescue attempt of the pilot. During a postaccident examination of the floats, two unplugged holes were found under each front float bumper. The pilot’s son said that when the airplane arrived in Alaska, the standard float bumpers were not installed and a tire-type material was installed as a bumper instead. The correct smaller bumpers were installed at the time of the accident, with new-looking sealant around the bumper. 4 holes had been added to the front of each float to attach the larger, tire-type bumper; however, only the two side holes had been plugged and sealed. The two lower holes were left open. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the underside of each float and found patches that did not appear to be watertight on the bottom. A witness stated that the pilot kept this airplane on the shore when it was not in use. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N217C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N217C-2026-03-28), registration cancelled 2026-03-28, S/N 18503558, built 1978 (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: 18503558 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5666.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2021 - Airport: AK28, Chena Marina, runway 36W, 4,000 × 200 ft, water - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: AFA, 1 nm away - METAR: PAFA 060153Z 00000KT 10SM FEW100 SCT200 06/M01 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP146 T00611006 ## 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 20221005016789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221005016789A), Oct 5, 2022: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Pilot in command (PIC) attempted to take off from float pond but never got airborne. While taxiing back for another take off attempt, engine power was reduced… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106074. 2.8 MB in all. - Witness statements (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15166195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23FA001%20Comb%20Witiness%20statements%202-Rel.pdf - FAA statement memorandum (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15165695&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23FA001%20FAA%20statment%20memorandum-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 865 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16161574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23FA001%20wreckage%20examination%20summary%202-Rel.pdf - Medical examiner memoradum (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15165906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23FA001%20Medical%20Examiner%20Memorandum-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15165916&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23FA001%20Wreckage%20Release-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 798 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15796714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC23FA001-Rel.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.