# NTSB ANC91FA115: Cessna A185F, Amitchiak Lake, AK, August 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: August 1, 1991, 23:15 UTC, 15:15 local
- Place: Amitchiak Lake, AK
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, March 31, 1993
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91FA115
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5487/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91FA115

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING; THEREBY LOSING CONTROL.  FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE MOUNTAIN WAVE, AND INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FROM WHICH TO RECOVER.

## Analysis

AMITCHIAK LAKE IS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY WITH A FIELD ELEVATION OF 2,500 FEET.  THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE NORTH, NORTHWEST.  THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND AND HAD TO MAKE A TURN TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS DIRECTLY DOWNWIND OF RISING TERRAIN.  ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND WAS FLYING IN A SOUTH, SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION OVER THE WATER WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WENT DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED INTO THE WATER.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITY WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE, AND OTHER SYSTEMS ON THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - mountain wave (contributing factor)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1687M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1687M-2001-08-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18501874
- Airframe hours: 3980
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 285 horsepower
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: GAEDEKE, BERND A.
- Airport: runway 0
- FAA reports: 19910801031359A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910801031359A) (OpenAirDocs)

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 51; private; medical class 3; hours: 30 90 days, 5,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility (statute miles): 15
- Lowest ceiling (ft AGL): 10000
- Temperature (°F): 50

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.