- Date
- September 17, 1993, 16:47 local (Sep 18, 1993, 00:47 UTC)
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N84627Cessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19930917039829A
- Case key
- 2433
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision. The rough water in the takeoff area was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the takeoff run, and just before reaching takeoff airspeed, the floatplane hit a large swell and was launched into the air. When the plane touched back down on the water, it was immediately hit with another large swell. The pilot reduced power and taxied back to the dock. The airplane was substantially damaged during the collision with the water. The pilot said he could not avoid hitting the large swells which were caused by a nearby passing boat.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On September 17, 1993, at 1647 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N84627, operated by Ketchikan Air Service, Inc. of Ketchikan, Alaska, hit a large swell and experienced a collapsed landing gear while attempting to takeoff from the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base, Ketchikan, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The unscheduled domestic passenger flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 135 at the time. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.
Following the accident during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following, in part: "I started the takeoff run in smooth water. Just before reaching takeoff airspeed, I hit a large swell which launched the airplane into the air prematurely.
When the plane came back down on the water, it was immediately hit with another large swell. I reduced power and taxied back to the dock. I could not avoid the large swells which were caused by a nearby passing boat."
According to the operator's Director of Maintenance, Joe Markley, the right rear float fitting was sheared and the fuselage in that area and the left aileron were substantially damaged.
Additional information
Ketchikan Air's Director of Operations, Roger Merchant, stated that the results were negative from the pilot's post-accident toxicological tests.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84627
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503150
- Airframe hours
- 11,275
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Ketchikan Air Service, Inc., doing business as Ketchikan Air Service
- Registered owner
- Ketchikan Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 5KE
- Destination
- KTB · Thorne Bay, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 5KE · Ketchikan Spb
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 4,150 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 4,130 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 130 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KTN, 1 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.