# NTSB ANC83LA183: Cessna 185, N185JS, Fairbanks, AK, September 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 28, 1983, 16:00 local (Sep 29, 1983, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.810928, -147.719818 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8109&lon=-147.7198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4178/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA183

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - wing,wingtip - bent (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - preflight planning/preparation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight manuals - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF ROTATION, WHICH OCCURRED AT 44 KTS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SLOW TURN TO THE LEFT APPARENTLY A TORQUE STALL, CAUSING A WING STALL AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE ICE. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND THE RIGHT FLOAT STRUCK A MUD BANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A ROBERTSON STOL KIT AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE AT 59 DEG F OF 1090 FEET AND 32 KTS IAS USING ROBERTSON'S RECOMMENDED TECHNIQUE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185JS), registered now, S/N 18503095, built 1976 (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: 18502504
- Airframe hours: 725
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph W. Sheehan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 1982, 50 hours before
- Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,071 total, 3,071 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °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 19830928052499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830928052499A), Sep 28, 1983: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Left wing stalled on water takeoff. Aircraft settled onto iced over portion. Floatplane veered into a mud bank.

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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