# NTSB ANC98LA067: Cessna 185, N9855X, Chickaloon, AK, June 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 1998, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.739162, -148.219589 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7392&lon=-148.2196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 17, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3153 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3153/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA067 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel boost pump selector position - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - frozen ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9855X), registered now, S/N 1850055, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0055 - Airframe hours: 10146 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980609020289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609020289A), Jun 9, 1998: Cessna A185E, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. Transporting persons an cargo to base camp on a glacier. Engine quit on final. Hard landing short of landing area. (.4)the certificated commercial pilot was… ## Other investigations on N9855X (3) 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 ANC23LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA059), Aug 4, 2023: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The passenger’s inadvertent application of brakes during landing that resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC97LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA110), Jul 23, 1997: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance during the downslope, downwind, high altitude, takeoff. Factors were the snow and lighting conditions, and the tailwind takeoff. - [NTSB ANC80DA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA074), Jul 18, 1980: Cessna 185 (N9855X), Collinsville, AK, substantial damage 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.