# NTSB ANC93LA044: Cessna 185, N61500, Barrow, AK, March 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 1993, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Barrow, AK - Coordinates: 71.279685, -156.779769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2797&lon=-156.7798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2330/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA044 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING A LEFT TURN AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, LOOKING AT CARIBOU, THE AIRPLANE BANKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. ALTITUDE WAS LOST AND THE LEFT WING AND LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE MISHAP MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN INADVERTENT STALL. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY COMPANY PERSONNEL DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 1993, at approximately 1245 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N61500, owned and operated by Cape Smythe Air Service, collided with terrain while maneuvering at low altitude near the site of a remote fishing camp, approximately 40 miles west of Barrow, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and the one passenger, the pilot's fiancee, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot in command, the airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of aerial observation of the snow conditions at the fishing camp when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Barrow at about 1214. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator in charge on the afternoon of March 15, 1993, the pilot in command said that he was maneuvering the airplane, which was equipped with a Robinson Stol Kit, approximately 300 feet above the ground with 3 notches of flaps at approximately 65 knots indicated airspeed (IAS). He initiated a "casual" left banking turn near some caribou when the airplane banked violently to the left. Altitude was lost and the left wing and landing gear struck the ground. The pilot reported that he regained control of the airplane and returned to Barrow, Alaska. The pilot further commented that the mishap may have been caused by an inadvertent stall. A post accident examination of the airplane by company personnel did not reveal any preexisting problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61500](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61500-1998-04-15), registration cancelled 1998-04-15, S/N 18504217 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504217 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Cape Symthe Air - Registered owner: Cape Symthe Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000 - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,600 total, 1,620 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -15 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19930314005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930314005309A), Mar 14, 1993: Cessna A185F, Barrow, AK, Substantial damage. While observing fishing camp snow cover,stalled in shallow turn. Left gear and wing hit snow. Recovered landed safe ## Other investigations on N61500 (3) 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 ANC98LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA009), Oct 31, 1997: Cessna 185F (N61500), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the presence of gravel/sand in the takeoff area. - [NTSB ANC88LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA145), Sep 21, 1988: Cessna 185F (N61500), Chip River, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC85LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA088), Jun 1, 1985: Cessna A185F (N61500), Alaktak, 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.