# NTSB ANC97LA136: Cessna 185F, N93276, Kotzebue, AK, August 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1997, 19:50 local (Aug 31, 1997, 03:50 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 67.240028, -161.189788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.2400&lon=-161.1898&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 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor was the short length of the off-airport site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Abrupt maneuver, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot landing the tundra tire equipped airplane on a 600 feet long x 75 feet wide gravel landing area. The pilot stated that the off-airport site was too short to stop, so he attempted to ground loop to the left to avoid running off the end into a drop off. The right wing and right stabilizer contacted the ground. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1997, at 1950 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N93276, was substantially damaged when its right wing and right horizontal stabilizer contacted terrain at the end of an off-airport landing site, 28 miles northeast of Kotzebue, Alaska, at position 67-35 degrees north latitude, 161-47 west longitude. The commercial certificated pilot and one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated by Mavrik Aire of Soldotna, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight preparing camps for the upcoming hunting season. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was filed with a local lodge owner. During an interview with the NTSB investigator, the pilot stated that he and an employee were landing at the 600 feet long x 75 feet wide site, in calm winds, and were not able to stop before reaching the end. The terrain steeply dropped off at the end of the landing area. The pilot attempted to ground loop the airplane to the left, the airplane tipped up on the right wing, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93276](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93276), registered now, S/N 18503208, built 1977 (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: 185-03208 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Craig M. Schweitzer, doing business as Mavrik Aire - Registered owner: Pat Lockhart - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: OTZ, AK - Destination: SQUIRREL RIVER, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19970830024949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970830024949A), Aug 30, 1997: Cessna A185F, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot landing the tundra tire equipped airplane on a 600 feet long x 75 feet wide gravel landing area. The pilot stated that the off-airport site was… 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.