# NTSB ANC83LA098: Cessna 185, N2565Z, Kenai, AK, June 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 14, 1983, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.659091, -150.899414 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6591&lon=-150.8994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4129/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA098

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,float assembly - improper (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - deteriorated (cause)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD AN EXTERNAL LOAD OF PLYWOOD ATTACHED TO ITS FLOATS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACFT LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. HE MADE A RIGHT TURN BACK TOWARD THE LAKE AND THE ACFT STALLED. THE PILOT WAS RECOVERING FROM THE SPIN WHEN THE FLOATS HIT THE WATER. WITNESSES ALONG THE LAKE SAID THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED SIMILAR OPERATION BEFORE, AND HAD ABORTED ONE TAKEOFF BEFORE THE CRASH. BOTH WITNESSES SAID THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2565Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-0565
- Airframe hours: 7000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Helfer Harry C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1982, 0 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,800 total, 206 in this make and model, 3,209 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Observed at: ENA, 10 nm away

## 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 19830614025109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830614025109A), Jun 14, 1983: Cessna 185B, North Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled after takeoff with unauthorized load of lumber attached to floats. Spun into lake and sank inverted.

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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