# NTSB ANC95LA087: Cessna 185, N9667Q, Fairbanks, AK, June 29, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1995, 21:15 local (Jun 29, 1995, 05:15 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.809661, -147.719192 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8097&lon=-147.7192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2673/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA087

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES TO NOT EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR DURING A WATER LANDING DUE TO HABIT INTERFERENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels down landing in water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - habit interference, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED, HE NORMALLY FLIES A RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR MOONEY AND HE BELIEVES THAT HE INADVERTENTLY EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE LANDING ON THE WATER.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THAT THE AMPHIBIOUS FLOAT LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED AND THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE DOWN SELECT POSITION.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 1995, at 2115 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N9667Q, registered to and operated by the pilot, landed on the water with the wheels down and nosed over during landing at Chena Marina, Fairbanks, Alaska.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed from the water at Chena Marina for a local flight.  No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The commercial certificated pilot and his one passenger were not injured.  The airplane received substantial damage.

According to the pilot, he believes that he put the wheels down out of habit because he normally flies a retractable gear Mooney airplane.  He stated there was no mechanical problem with the airplane.

Subsequent examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration, Flight Standards Inspector showed that the wheels on the amphibious floats were extended and that the landing gear control handle was in the down position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9667Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503785
- Airframe hours: 1900
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D3 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Crathern, Charles
- Registered owner: Cfh Crathern
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1995, 50 hours before
- Departed: AK28
- Airport: AK28, Chena Marina Seaplane, runway 18, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,170 total, 43 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAI, 3 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950628015599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950628015599A), Jun 28, 1995: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Landed amphibian on lake with wheels down. Used to flying retractible land aircraft. Nosed over on touchdown.

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.

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