# NTSB ANC92LA054: Cessna A185F, N3332S, Fairbanks, AK, March 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1992, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 65.390228, -148.33052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.3902&lon=-148.3305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5706
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5706/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA054

## Probable cause

POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, AND WRONG RUNWAY NOT IDENTIFIED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND THE LANDING STRIP. THE PILOT OVER FLEW THE RUNWAY AND MISIDENTIFIED THE RUNWAY FOR A TAXIWAY OR ROAD NEAR THE AIRCRAFT PARKING RAMP. INSTEAD OF LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE FROZEN AIRSTRIP FLOAT PLANE CANAL THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE SOFT SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3332S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3332S), registered now, S/N 18502274 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502274
- Airframe hours: 2750
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: R & M Consultants, Inc.
- Registered owner: R & M Consultants, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1992, 4 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Chena Marina, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,825 total, 1,492 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAI, 11 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 19920328007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920328007639A), Mar 28, 1992: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Landed by mistake on snow covered frozen canal and nosed over. Canal parallels runway. Believed runway was taxiway.

## Other investigations on N3332S (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 ANC80DAG58](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG58), May 16, 1980: Cessna 185 (N3332S), Kenai, 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.

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