- Date
- November 19, 1994, 15:19 local (19:19 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9618HCessna 185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 29, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19941119038639A
- Case key
- 2610
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. The pilot's disregard of a NOTAM that closed the runway and a slush covered runway area were factors in the accident.
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
The pilot was landing on a frozen lake to exchange the main landing gear wheels for ski equipment. The intended airport, a seaplane base, had been closed due to slush and soft ice conditions. A NOTAM had been issued and the pilot was advised of the NOTAM prior to landing. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft ice/snow and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On November 19, 1994, at 1519 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna Model 185F airplane, N9618H, registered to the pilot-in-command, nosed over during a landing attempt on the frozen over Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, Alaska. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight last departed the Merrill Field Airport in North Anchorage, Alaska and the destination was Lake Hood. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no flight plan on file for the flight.
The pilot was planning to land on the ice covered lake to exchange his landing gear wheels for ski equipment. While inbound to Lake Hood, the pilot was advised by Anchorage Air Traffic Control Tower personnel that a NOTAM was in effect for Lake Hood and the airport was closed. The pilot continued with the approach/landing. The plane touched down in soft slushy ice/snow and nosed over. The airport/facility directory indicates that overflows onto the ice may occur during the winter months.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9618H
- Reported as
- Cessna 185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503454
- Airframe hours
- 1,427
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D24, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dickey, Ray S. Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 1994 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- MRL · AK
- Airport
- LHD · Lake Hood Seaplane
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,615 total · 1,740 in this make and model · 4,565 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ANC, 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.
Other investigations on N9618H · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.