# NTSB ANC97LA133: Cessna 185E, N454CF, King Salmon, AK, August 26, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 1997, 15:49 local (23:49 UTC)
- Place: King Salmon, AK
- Coordinates: 58.750202, -156.539001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7502&lon=-156.5390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3054
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3054/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA133

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing the oversize tire equipped airplane on dry, newly surfaced, asphalt.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The 29-inch tundra tire equipped airplane was being landed on a dry, newly surfaced, asphalt runway.  The winds were reported to be a 40 degree right crosswind at 6 knots.  The pilot stated that there were no problems with the airplane, and that he allowed the airplane to veer left.  The airplane departed the runway, struck a berm, and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On August 26, 1997, at 1549 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N454CF, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, Alaska.  The airline transport certificated pilot and two passengers were uninjured.  The flight originated from Seldovia, Alaska, at 1415, and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The airplane was landing on runway 29.  At the time of the accident, 8,500 feet by 75 feet (one-half width) of runway 29 was open due to resurfacing.  The runway surface was dry, newly coated, asphalt.  The airplane was configured with Schneider SWS 29 x 11 x 10 inch tires.  Winds were from 310 degrees at 6 knots.

The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator that during landing he allowed the airplane to swerve left and depart the runway edge.  The right tire struck a dirt berm, and the airplane nosed over.  He said there were no mechanical discrepancies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N454CF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-1247
- Airframe hours: 4186
- Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Theron A. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1997, 23 hours before
- Departed: SOV, SELDOVA, AK
- Destination: AKN, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AKN, King Salmon, runway 29, 8,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AKN

## 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 19970826023969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970826023969A), Aug 26, 1997: Cessna A185E, King Salmon, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on landing. (.4)the 29-inch tundra tire equipped airplane was being landed on a dry, newly surfaced, asphalt runway. The winds were reported…

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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