# NTSB ANC88FA012: Cessna 185, N9946X, Anchorage, AK, October 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1987, 18:06 local (22:06 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.190876, -149.939056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1909&lon=-149.9391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4941/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88FA012

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - water loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED SEAPLANE PILOT-IN-COMMAND MADE ONE GO AROUND WHEN HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN IDENTIFYING THE SURFACE OF THE GLASSY WATER. ON THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE INTO THE WATER AT A NEGATIVE ANGLE OF ATTACK. THE AIRPLANE STAYED RIGHT SIDE UP IN SPITE OF A PARTIAL CARTWHEEL TO THE RIGHT. IT THEN ROLLED ONTO THE LEFT WING BEFORE RIGHTING ITSELF. DAMAGE WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9946X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9946X), registered now, S/N 185-0146, 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: 1850146
- Airframe hours: 3093
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470F 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Edward G. Barber, Jr.
- Registered owner: Edward Guy Barber, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1987, 20 hours before
- Departed: FIGURE EIGHT LK, AK
- Destination: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: LHD, Lake Hood

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 479 total, 9 in this make and model, 362 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC, 7 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 19871026060809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871026060809A), Oct 26, 1987: Cessna 185, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Crashed on a night landing. Made the approach at a negative angle to a grassy water surface. Wing struck the water.

## Other investigations on N9946X (1)

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 DEN68F0277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68F0277), May 22, 1968: Cessna 185 (N9946X), Cedar City, UT, 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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