- Date
- February 23, 1997, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Delta Junction, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N93189Cessna 185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19970223010029A
- Case key
- 2966
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 inadequate compensation of wind conditins, and failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff run. The crosswind was a related 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
The pilot and passenger were departing a remote, frozen lake, in a wheel/ski equipped airplane. During the takeoff run, in a southerly direction, the airplane encountered strong gusty winds from the east. The airplane began to slide sideways to the right and the right main gear separated from the fuselage at the upper gear attach point. The right wing and propeller struck the ice. The closest official weather observation station, 41 miles west of the accident site, was reporting wind from the east at 12 knots with gusts to 24 knots.
Factual narrative
On February 23, 1997, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185F, N93189, crashed during takeoff from a remote lake, about 41 miles east of Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on February 24, 1997, at 1410, the pilot reported he landed on the frozen surface of Sand Lake to inspect property. During the takeoff run in a southerly direction, the airplane encountered strong gusty winds from the east. The airplane began to slide sideways to the right and the right main gear separated from the fuselage at the upper gear attach point. The right wing and propeller struck the ice.
The closest official weather observation station is Allen Army Airfield, Delta Junction, Alaska. On February 23, 1997, at 1551, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 150 degrees (true) at 12 knots, gusts to 24 knots; visibility, 35 statute miles; clouds, few at 6,500 feet, 10,000 feet scattered, 18,000 feet overcast; temperature, 44 degrees F; dew point, 25 degrees F; altimeter, 29.58 inHg.
At 1552, a METAR from Northway, Alaska, located 80 nautical miles east of the accident site was reporting in part: Wind, variable at 4 knots; visibility, 50 statute miles; clouds, 7,000 feet broken, 12,000 feet overcast; temperature, 22 degrees F; dew point, 19 degrees F; altimeter, 29.70 inHg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93189
- Reported as
- Cessna 185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503194
- Airframe hours
- 687
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Winston Burbank
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 30, 1997 · 5 hours before
- Destination
- FAI · Fairbanks, AK
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 552 total · 72 in this make and model · 466 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BIG, 41 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.