# NTSB ANC93FA107: Cessna 185, N93018, Wasilla, AK, July 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 1993, 13:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93FA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93FA107 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY (WATERWAY). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT IN COMMAND SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE COMMENCED THE WATER TAKEOFF FROM THE GENERAL AREA ON THE LAKE THAT HE NORMALLY DID AND THAT THE TAKEOFF RUN, USING TWO NOTCHES OF FLAP, AND THE LIFT OFF POINT WERE ROUTINE. NOT ALL OF THE AVAILABLE LAKE AREA WAS USED FOR THE TAKEOFF. THE PLANE CARRIED APPROXIMATELY 75 GALLONS OF FUEL, THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER, EACH WEIGHING UNDER 175 POUNDS, A FISHING TACKLE BOX AND A SMALL SURVIVAL BAG. AS THE PLANE CLIMBED TO THE HEIGHT OF THE TREES AT THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING SHORELINE, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND WHICH REQUIRED A MOMENTARY FLIGHT CONTROL INPUT TO COUNTER. HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE SENSATION THAT THE PLANE HAD ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE REALIZED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK SHOWED THAT PRIOR TO JULY 1993, HIS LAST FLIGHT IN N93018 OCCURRED IN JUNE 1992. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THE PLANE'S ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROLS. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 1993, at approximately 1315 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N93018, registered to and operated by the pilot in command, crashed during takeoff from the Anderson Lake Seaplane Strip in Wasilla, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the one passenger on board received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local pleasure flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and a VFR flight plan had not been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot in command told the NTSB investigator during the on scene investigation that prior to commencing the takeoff, he performed a preflight and engine run up check and found everything to be in proper working order. The airplane's wing fuel tanks were full and the cargo/baggage consisted of a fishing tackle box and a small bag containing survival gear. The on scene investigation verified this information. The pilot said that the takeoff was commenced from the other side of the lake in the general area that he normally began his takeoffs from. Not all of the available lake area was used for the takeoff run. The plane's takeoff acceleration and engine instrument indications were normal. The pilot said that he believed that the airplane became airborne in the approximate area that it normally did. The pilot did not recall the airspeed at which the airplane became airborne nor the speed at which the plane was flown during the initial climb out. The pilot said that as the airplane climbed to the height of the trees at the rapidly approaching shoreline, a gust of wind from the right was encountered which required some pilot input to correct. The pilot said that this was the only wind induced event that was experienced during the flight and that he did not experience the sensation that the plane was sinking or that it had entered a downdraft. The pilot said that upon correcting for the gust, he realized that he did not have sufficient altitude to avoid colliding with the trees. He then slightly reduced engine power and maneuvered the plane away from a nearby house. The pilot reported that he did not experience any problems with the plane's engine or flight controls. The on scene investigation collaborated the comments made by the pilot. Based upon the empty weight of the airplane, and the known fuel, cargo and weights of the pilot and passenger, the airplane's weight and center of gravity (CG) at the time the takeoff was commenced was approximately 3000 pounds and 42 inches, respectively. The forward and aft CG limits at 3000 pounds are 40 inches and 46.5 inches, respectively. The plane's maximum authorized weight is 3350 pounds. The pilots log book showed that prior to July 1993, his most recent flight in N93018 occurred in June 1992. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93018](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93018), registered now, S/N 18503161, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - 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: 18503161 - Airframe hours: 2932 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D24 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Johnson, Gerald D. - Registered owner: Johnson, Gerald D. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1993, 46 hours before - Destination: 0AK1 - Airport: OAK1, Anderson Lake ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19930701021499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930701021499A), Jul 1, 1993: Cessna 185F, Wasill, AK, Substantial damage. Water takeoff on narrow part of lake. Got downdraft near shore. Struck trees. Had not flown aircraft for a year. ## Other investigations on N93018 (2) 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 ANC19CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19CA009), Dec 23, 2018: Cessna A185 (N93018), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land on a roadway during dark night conditions with inoperable landing and taxi lights, which resulted in an impact with a snow berm. - [NTSB ANC87LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA139), Sep 6, 1987: Cessna 185F (N93018), Wasilla, 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.