# NTSB ANC97LA071: Cessna 185, N1005F, Cordova, AK, May 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 1997, 17:30 local (May 13, 1997, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.789371, -145.609115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7894&lon=-145.6091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3004/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision not to perform a go-around. A factor in the accident was the presence of birds which led the pilot to extend and misjudge his touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - object - bird(s) (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land his float equipped airplane on a lake when he saw a flock of geese near his intended touchdown point. He elected to lengthen his landing approach and fly over the geese. Soon after touchdown, he realized he would not be able to stop the airplane prior to the shoreline, and that he had insufficient room to abort the landing. The airplane ran up on the shore and struck a tree. The pilot reported that he should have performed a go-around. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 1997, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1005F, sustained substantial damage while landing on Eyak Lake, Cordova, Alaska. The private pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated at Yakutat, Alaska, and was en route to Cordova. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. A visual flight rules flight plan was in effect. The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that he was landing to the west on Eyak Lake. Prior to touchdown, he saw a flock of geese on the lake and lengthened his landing approach to over fly them. When he touched down, he soon realized he would not be able to stop the airplane prior to hitting the shore, and that he had insufficient room to abort the landing. The airplane continued toward the shoreline, ran up on the bank, and struck a tree with the left wing and float. The left wing sustained substantial damage. In the section of the NTSB Report titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented)", the pilot wrote: "... Should have made a go-around... miscalculated." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1005F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1005F), registered now, S/N 18502677, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502677 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Theodore J. Shaw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 29, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: 2Y3, YAKUTAT, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CKU, Eyak Lake, runway 27, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 778 total, 268 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CDV ## 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 19970512009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970512009919A), May 12, 1997: Cessna A185F, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot was attempting to land his float equipped airplane on a lake when he saw a flock of geese near his intended touchdown point. He elected to… ## Other investigations on N1005F (1) 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 CHI98LA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA348), Sep 4, 1998: Cessna A185F (N1005F), Bottineau, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's excessive use of brake pressure which resulted in the aircraft nosing over.. 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.