# NTSB ANC89LA167: Cessna A185F, N79SC, Nenana River, AK, September 20, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1989, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Nenana River, AK
- Location: 64.5600° N, 148.9773° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from NENANA MUNI (ENN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5600&lon=-148.9773&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5262
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5262/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA167

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS:  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, pilot in command

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79SC-2013-08-28), registration cancelled 2013-08-28, S/N 18502406, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- 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: 18502406
- Airframe hours: 4165
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dan Stickney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 8, 1989, 28 hours before
- Departed: NOWITNA RIVER, AK
- Airport: ENN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 250 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890920035689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890920035689A), Sep 20, 1989: Cessna A185F, Nenana River, AK, Substantial damage. Failed to reduce side slip for crosswind landing. Wing hit water and seaplane cartwheeled.

## Other investigations on N79SC (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 ANC82DA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA073), Aug 16, 1982: Cessna 185 (N79SC), Near Skwentna, 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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