# NTSB ANC90LA152: Cessna 185, N185GJ, Nenana, AK, August 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1990, 20:58 local (Aug 23, 1990, 04:58 UTC)
- Place: Nenana, AK
- Coordinates: 64.470527, -148.570144 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.4705&lon=-148.5701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5435
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5435/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA152

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

DURING A WATER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE FLOATPLANE & IT COLLIDED WITH A BANK.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND.  THE PILOT SUBMITTED TO AN ALCOHOL INTOXIMETER TEST ABOUT 24 MIN AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  THE TEST INDICATED A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 269 MG% (0.269%).

## Aircraft

- Registration: N185GJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502672
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clifton, Jesse
- Registered owner: Boneta O'Connor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 1989, 83 hours before
- Airport: ENN, Nenana, runway 30, 4,000 × 200 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °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 19900822035229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900822035229A), Aug 22, 1990: Cessna A185F, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. Lost control of floatplane on takeoff from a pond. Aircraft struck shore and flipped over. Pilot blood alchol .269.

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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