- Date
- March 7, 1989, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Shell Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9824XCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19890307003399A
- Case key
- 5170
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper inflight decision in selecting unsuitable terrain on which to land. Contributing to the accident was the rough/uneven terrain and the snowbank.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
On ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Terrain condition - snowbankFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedCause
Landing gear,main gear - overload
Landing gear,main gear - separation
Nose over
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to land on a frozen lake when his right ski hit a snow drift and became detached. The airplane's right gear contacted the ice causing the airplane to nose over on its back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9824X
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0024
- Airframe hours
- 3,103
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James C. Knapp
- Registered owner
- A.E. Knapp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 27, 1988 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- BGQ · Big Lake, AK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 711 total · 211 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 19 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.