# NTSB ANC92LA181: Cessna 185, N4891Q, Petersburg, AK, September 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1992, 12:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, AK
- Coordinates: 57.050312, -132.619201 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0503&lon=-132.6192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (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): 5820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5820/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA181

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND DURING INITIAL CLIMB.  A FACTOR RELATING TO ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.

## 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 - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

PILOT OVERFLEW WATER LANDING AREA AT REMOTE LOCATION NOTING THAT HIGH GUSTING WINDS WERE SUBSIDING AND THE LANDING AREA WAS NOW SUITABLE FOR OPERATIONS. AFTER LANDING AND LOADING ONE PAX AND 225 LBS OF CARGO, HE ATTEMPTED WATER TAKEOFF. ON INITIAL LIFT OFF, GUSTS FORCED AIRCRAFT BACK TO WATER, HOWEVER THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF RUN. BECOMING AIRBORNE A SECOND TIME, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AT 30 FT ALTITUDE AND CARTWHEELED INTO THE WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4891Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503572
- Airframe hours: 8835
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Rodney Judy, doing business as Pacific Wing, Inc
- Registered owner: Cole A. Rhoden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 1992, 13 hours before
- Departed: CASCADE CREEK, AK
- Destination: PSG, PETERSBURG, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,442 total, 1,194 in this make and model, 7,168 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920929044279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920929044279A), Sep 29, 1992: Cessna 185F, Petersburg, AK, Destroyed. Amphibian departed bay into severe gusty wind. Forced back on water tried again. Forced down wing low. Cartwheeled.

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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