- Date
- June 9, 1998, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chickaloon, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9855XCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 17, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980609020289A
- Case key
- 3153
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 inadvertent activation of the fuel boost pump selector switch during final approach, which resulted in an overly rich mixture and subsequent loss of engine power.
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 was landing at an elevation of 6900 feet msl on the Matanuska Glacier. He said that while on short final for landing, the engine lost power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the airplane landed hard, about 500 feet short of the intended touch down point. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage. He said that after landing and while securing the cockpit controls, he discovered that the fuel boost pump switch was placed in the 'high boost' position. The Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook, stated, in part: 'If the engine-driven fuel pump switch is placed in the ON position, a fuel/air ratio considerably richer than best power is produced unless the mixture is leaned.'
Factual narrative
On June 9, 1998 about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N9855X, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on the Matanuska Glacier, about 50 miles southeast of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Hudson Air Service, Talkeetna, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the sole passenger aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Talkeetna Airport, about 0719.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 11, the pilot reported that he was transporting personnel and cargo to a base camp located at 6900 feet msl on the Matanuska Glacier. The pilot reported that while on short final for landing, all engine power was lost. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the airplane landed hard, about 500 feet short of the intended touch down point. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported in his written statement that after landing he discovered that the fuel boost pump switch had been placed in the "high boost" position. The Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook, states, in part: "If the engine-driven fuel pump switch is placed in the ON position, a fuel/air ratio considerably richer than best power is produced unless the mixture is leaned."
The pilot said that wind conditions at the time of the accident were calm.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9855X
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0055
- Airframe hours
- 10,146
- Engine
- Continental IO-520D-24, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Hudson Air Service, Inc., doing business as Hudson Air Service
- Registered owner
- Cliff L. Hudson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · June 8, 1998 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- TKA · Talkeetna, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,105 total · 250 in this make and model · 63 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9855X · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.