# NTSB ANC85LA088: Cessna A185F, N61500, Alaktak, AK, June 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1985, 16:00 local (Jun 1, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Alaktak, AK
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (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): 4496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA088

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDEDED WITH A SNOW BANK AND NOSED OVER DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT ON A FROZEN LAKE. THE PLT STATED THAT 'MY RT SKI HIT A PRESSURE RIDGE OR BROKE THROUGH CRUST; WHICHEVER, THE ACFT ABRURTLY PITCHED DOWN, CONTACTING THE ICE AND CONTINUING OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE STOP WAS ABRUPT LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE SKI HIT AN OBSTACLE.' THE PLTS RECOMMENDATION TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OCCURRENCE WAS TO PROHIBIT OFF-ARPT LNDGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61500](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61500-1998-04-15), registration cancelled 1998-04-15, S/N 18504217 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504217
- Airframe hours: 1053
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Grant B. Thompson, doing business as Cape Smythe Services, Inc
- Registered owner: Cape Smythe Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 9, 1985, 72 hours before
- Departed: BRW, BARROW, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,025 total, 260 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19850531026309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850531026309A), May 31, 1985: Cessna A185F, Alaktak, AK, Substantial damage. While dragging frozen lake, ski struck something which was covered with snow. Aircraft pitched down and over.

## Other investigations on N61500 (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 ANC98LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA009), Oct 31, 1997: Cessna 185F (N61500), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the presence of gravel/sand in the takeoff area.
- [NTSB ANC93LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA044), Mar 14, 1993: Cessna 185 (N61500), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE.
- [NTSB ANC88LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA145), Sep 21, 1988: Cessna 185F (N61500), Chip River, AK, substantial damage

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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