# NTSB ANC97LA078: Cessna 185F, N4471R, Ketchikan, AK, February 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1997, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.609939, -131.580795 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6099&lon=-131.5808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3010/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA078 ## Probable cause the pilot allowed an excessive rate of descent to develope during an approach to land, and delayed in initiating a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - planned approach - initiated, pilot in command - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot was landing a float equipped airplane near an ocean bay. Small ocean swells were present in the area of intended landing. The pilot indicated that during the landing approach, the descent rate was excessive, and she added full power to begin a go-around. The airplane continued to descend and the floats firmly contacted the water. The airplane then lifted off the water, and the pilot noticed the upper right door hinge was broken. The airplane was not flown again or inspected until 3 months later. The inspection facility noticed wrinkling and distortion of the lower fuselage, aft of the firewall and under the doors of the airplane. All of the airplane's door hinges were broken. Additional wrinkling was observed above the baggage door, under the aft window. The inspection facility considered the airplane as unairworthy. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 1997, about 1400 Alaska standard time, a float equipped Cessna 185F, N4471R, collided with the water during landing about 15 miles southwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ketchikan Harbor Seaplane Base, at 1330. On May 16, 1997, at 1120, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that she was landing near Phocena Bay, located on the south end of Gravina Island. Small ocean swells were present in the area of intended landing. During the landing approach, the pilot indicated the descent rate was excessive and she added full power to begin a go-around. The airplane continued to descend and the floats firmly contacted the water. The airplane then lifted off the water and the pilot noticed the upper right door hinge was broken. The flight continued to the Peninsula Point Pullout Seaplane Base, Ketchikan, where a normal landing was performed. The airplane was not flown or inspected until an annual inspection on May 4, 1997. The inspection facility noticed wrinkling and distortion of the lower fuselage, aft of the firewall and under the doors of the airplane. All of the airplane's door hinges were broken. Additional wrinkling was observed above the baggage door, under the aft window. The inspection facility confirmed the damage to the airplane on May 23, 1997, and reported the airplane was unairworthy. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4471R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4471R), registered now, S/N 18502964, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - 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: 18502964 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carol A. Murray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 5KE - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 90 in this make and model, 101 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 6 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F ## 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 19970223014329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970223014329A), Feb 23, 1997: Cessna A185F, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot was landing a float equipped airplane near an ocean bay. Small ocean swells were present in the area of intended landing. The pilot indicated… ## Other investigations on N4471R (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 ANC94LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA067), Jun 8, 1994: Cessna 185 (N4471R), Kassan Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND. FACTORS WERE THE ROUGH WATER AND THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION. 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.