# NTSB ANC95LA003: Cessna A185F, N20752, Kotzebue, AK, October 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1994, 11:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.240364, -161.189849 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2404&lon=-161.1898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA003 ## Probable cause A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DISTANCE FROM THE TERRAIN (SNOW BANK). FLAT LIGHTING AND LOW CONTRAST CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - snowbank - distance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS OF A WHEEL/SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE WERE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF FOR AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT. THE RIGHT SKI CONTACTED A SNOW BERM AND PIVOTED THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING THEN STRUCK A SNOW BANK. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS AND LOW CONTRAST MADE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SNOW BERM AND THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN DIFFICULT. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1994, at 1140 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F airplane, operated by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., collided with a snow bank while taxiing for takeoff at the Kotzebue Airport in Kotzebue, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command and his two revenue passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight operation was being conducted under the on- demand rules contained in 14 CFR Part 135. A VFR flight plan was on file with the Kotzebue Flight Service Station (FSS) and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap. During a telephone interview, the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that while taxiing for takeoff the right ski drove onto a snow berm causing the airplane to veer to the left and collide with a snow pile. The left wing, left aileron, and left elevator were damaged in the mishap. The pilot reported that the mishap occurred during a flat light condition which made it difficult for him to distinguish the distance between the snow bank and the snow covered terrain in the background. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20752](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20752), registered now, S/N 18503041, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503041 - Airframe hours: 3493 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Cape Smythe Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 13, 1994, 6 hours before - Destination: SHESHALIK, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OTZ, Kotzebue ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,151 total, 395 in this make and model, 4,931 as pilot in command, 286 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 19941015041979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941015041979A), Oct 15, 1994: Cessna A185F, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. During taxi right ski drove into a snow berm causing aircraft to veer into a snow pile. ## Other investigations on N20752 (7) 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 ANC00LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA099), Aug 12, 2000: Cessna 185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was a hidden obstruction, and soft terrain. - [NTSB ANC97LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA131), Aug 25, 1997: Cessna 185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a ground swerve and damage to the airplane. A factor… - [NTSB ANC96LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA114), Aug 2, 1996: Cessna 185 (N20752), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll. - [NTSB ANC93LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA147), Aug 14, 1993: Cessna 185 (N20752), Point Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE FLIGHT. - [NTSB ANC93LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA016), Nov 28, 1992: Cessna 185 (N20752), Point Hope, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE… - [NTSB ANC92LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA067), May 3, 1992: Cessna C-A185F (N20752), Barrow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FLT CONTROLS BY THE SECOND PILOT DURING LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE MISHAP WERE THE ROUGH/UNEVEN SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. - [NTSB ANC89IA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89IA019), Nov 22, 1988: Cessna A185F (N20752), Deadhorse, AK, incident, no 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.