# NTSB ANC91LA103: Cessna 185, N1650Z, Jago River, AK, July 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1991, 16:00 local (Jul 19, 1991, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Jago River, AK
- Coordinates: 66.559738, -145.249877 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5597&lon=-145.2499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA103

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WET SURFACE OF THE AIRSTRIP, THE CURVE IN THE AIRSTRIP, AND THE VEGETATION WHICH COVERED THE ENTIRE AIRSTRIP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - tundra (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ravine

## Analysis

THE DESTINATION WAS AN AIRSTRIP ON THE TUNDRA APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES SOUTH OF BARTER ISLAND ON THE JAGO RIVER.  THE SURFACE OF THE AIRSTRIP WAS WET VEGETATION AND THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE BRAKING ACTION AS 'NIL.'  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BERM WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND IT COLLAPSED UNDER THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1650Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1650Z), registered now, S/N 185-0450, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna 185A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (registry code 2072804) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-0450
- Airframe hours: 7100
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Roger D. Dowding
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 1, 1991, 46 hours before
- Departed: ARC, ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Jago River, runway 36, 950 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °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 19910718028919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910718028919A), Jul 18, 1991: Cessna 185A, Jago River, AK, Substantial damage. Unable to negotiate curve on wet tundra airstrip. Slid into a berm collapsing right main landing gear.

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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