# NTSB ANC98LA070: Cessna 185, N2902Q, Skwentna, AK, June 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 1998, 20:30 local (Jun 10, 1998, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.929035, -151.729217 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9290&lon=-151.7292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are wind gusts, and a crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was step taxiing to the west in preparation for a departure to the south. The pilot noted that after the airplane passed beyond an area of shoreline that was protecting the airplane from a left crosswind, a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing. The right wing struck the water, pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing struck the water. The right and left wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from varying directions with peak gusts to 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 1998, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N2902Q, sustained substantial damage while step taxiing at a remote lake located about 10 miles north of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot/airplane owner and the one passenger aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Seymour Lake, Wasilla, about 1430. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 10, the pilot reported that he was step taxiing to the west in preparation for a departure to the south. The pilot noted that after the airplane passed beyond an area of shoreline that was protecting the airplane from a left crosswind, a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing. The right wing struck the water, pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing struck the water. The right and left wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that wind conditions at the time of the accident were from varying directions with peak gusts to 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2902Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2902Q), registered now, S/N 18503539 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - 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: 18503539 - Airframe hours: 1863 - Engines: Continental IO-540-S1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Grant Debs Webley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1998, 5 hours before - Departed: WASILLA, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 788 total, 231 in this make and model, 692 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - 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 19980609021349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980609021349A), Jun 9, 1998: Cessna A185F, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Step taxiing float equipped 185 on a lake. Wind gust lifted a wing. Other wing hit the water. (.4)the certificated private pilot was step taxiing to the west… 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.