ANC93LA088

The pilot made several low passes over a frozen lake and bounced the gear on the surface to check the condition of the ice. He then elected to land on the lake. During the last 100 feet of the landing rollout, the main landing gear tires began to cut a groove in the ice. The airplane subsequently sank in approximately 30 feet of water.

On June 12, 1993, at 0930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N8536L, owned and operated by the pilot in command, sank through the ice on Porcupine Lake during the landing rollout. The accident site is approximately 97 nautical miles southeast of Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay), Alaska. The pilot and the two passengers on board were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Shader Lake earlier that same morning under the general aviation flight rules of 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of a day fishing trip when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed with the Barrow Flight Service Station.

During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator in charge on the morning of June 13, 1993, the pilot reported that he made several low passes over the lake to check the condition of the ice and that on one of the passes he bounced one of the main landing gear tires on the ice. During the last 100 feet of the landing rollout, the main landing gear tires began to cut a groove in the ice and the airplane began to sink. The pilot estimated the airplane was submerged in approximately 30 feet of water.