# NTSB ANC89LA081: Cessna 185F, N1047F, Kahiltna Glac, AK, May 29, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 1989, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Kahiltna Glac, AK - Coordinates: 62.44989, -149.790084 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4499&lon=-149.7901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 5191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5191/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA081 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOWBANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - not possible, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING A VFR FINAL APPROACH TO A GLACIER THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A LOW FOG BANK. THE PILOT STATED, 'ON SHORT FINAL WITH FULL FLAPS AND A LOADED AIRCRAFT LANDING AT THIS LOCATION, A GO AROUND IS IMPOSSIBLE, I WAS COMMITTED TO LAND. UPON DESCENDING FURTHER I FOUND MYSELF IN A GROUND FOG AND LOST GROUND CONTACT....THE LANDING WAS HARD AND ON A STEEPER PART OF THE GLACIER IN DEEP SNOW AND TO THE LEFT OF THE USUAL TOUCHDOWN POINT.' ON LANDING THE GEAR BOXES BROKE, THE RIGHT SKI CAME OFF AND COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND THE PROPELLER CAME OFF THE ENGINE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1047F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1047F), registered now, S/N 18502704 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185F - 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: 18502704 - Airframe hours: 5484 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Doug Geeting Aviation, doing business as Doug Geeting Aviation - Registered owner: Doug Geeting Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 17, 1989, 26 hours before - Departed: TKA, TALKEETNNA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,131 total, 900 in this make and model, 3,975 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19890529013029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890529013029A), May 29, 1989: Cessna 185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on marked glacier strip, encountered low level fog. Made hard landing on upslope adjacent to landing area. ## Other investigations on N1047F (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 ANC95LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA059), May 26, 1995: Cessna 185 (N1047F), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO IDENTIFY UNSAFE SNOW CONDITIONS AT THE SITE. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS THE SOFT SNOW IN THE TAKEOFF AREA. - [NTSB ANC92FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92FA069), May 9, 1992: Cessna 185 (N1047F), Ruth Glacier, AK, minor damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE CE-172 TO BECOME AWARE OF AND TO USE… - [NTSB ANC84FA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA094), Jun 17, 1984: Cessna A185F (N1047F), Talkeetna, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.