# NTSB ANC91LA151: Cessna A185F, N21753, Koliganek, AK, September 23, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1991, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Koliganek, AK
- Coordinates: 59.849548, -154.559432 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8495&lon=-154.5594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5624/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA151

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed(vlof) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - not possible

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER LIFTOFF FROM THE WATER, HE ENCOUNTERED A CHANGING WIND CONDITION THAT CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO SETTLE BACK ONTO THE WATER.  WITH INSUFFICIENT STOPPING ROOM ON THE LAKE, HE JERKED THE AIRPLANE BACK INTO THE AIR IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE 4 TO 6 FOOT HIGH SHORELINE.  THE AIRPLANE THEN SETTLED TO THE GROUND AND NOSED OVER ABOUT 40 YARDS FROM THE LAKE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21753](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21753-1995-07-13), registration cancelled 1995-07-13, S/N 18503066 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503066
- Airframe hours: 2120
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: William H. Woodin, doing business as 4 W Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: William H. Woodin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 1991, 82 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,933 total, 700 in this make and model, 2,838 as pilot in command, 102 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °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 19910923042819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910923042819A), Sep 23, 1991: Cessna A185F, Koliganek, AK, Substantial damage. Settled after liftoff from a lake, ran out of lake,jerked aircraft into air to miss 5 foot shoreline and overturned

## Other investigations on N21753 (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 ANC82DA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DA097), Sep 23, 1982: Cessna 185 (N21753), Near Barrow, 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.