# NTSB ANC92LA019: Cessna 185, N2212T, Ketchikan, AK, December 14, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1991, 13:01 local (17:01 UTC)
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Coordinates: 55.610607, -131.580215 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6106&lon=-131.5802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5676
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5676/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA019

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS INCLUDE A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR THE MANEUVER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - powerplant - undetermined (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF BEHIND ANOTHER AIRPLANE, BOTH WITH A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER REACHING ABOUT 350 FEET AGL, BECAUSE OF THE LOW CLOUDS, HE BEGAN TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE.  WHEN HE REDUCED POWER TO STOP THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED.  HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A STEEP 180 DEGREE DESCENDING TURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING INTO THE WIND.  THE AIRPLANE HIT THE WATER IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED.  NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2212T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2212T-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 185-1364, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-1364
- Airframe hours: 7184
- Engines: CONTINENTAL I0-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald O'Brien Salazar, doing business as Ketchikan Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gerald O'Brien Salazar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 1991, 77 hours before
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: 5KE, Ketchikan Seaplane Base, runway 33, 10,000 × 0 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,400 total, 400 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTN, 1 nm away

## 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 19911214056249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911214056249A), Dec 14, 1991: Cessna A185E, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Descended into water turning back due to weather and losing contact with company flight. Failed note descent.

## Other investigations on N2212T (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 FTW75DRD11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75DRD11), Oct 13, 1974: Cessna A185E (N2212T), Patterson, LA, 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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