# NTSB ANC98LA080: Cessna 185F, N80596, Chitina, AK, June 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 1998, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Chitina, AK - Coordinates: 61.449024, -143.149734 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4490&lon=-143.1497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3164/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors in the accident were uneven and soft terrain on the landing strip. ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a remote airstrip next to a lodge. The airstrip's gravel bar, and sand bar surface, were uneven and soft. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered an uneven area of the gravel bar, and bounced into an area of soft sand. The tip of the left main wheel ski assembly dug into the ground, and the airplane then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the main landing gear, fuselage, and wings. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 1998, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N80596, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip, about 63 miles east of Chitina, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to Ultima Thule Outfitters Inc., Chitina. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Chitina Airport, about 1450. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 21, 1998, at 1735, the pilot reported he was transporting personal camping equipment to the Ultima Thule Lodge. The lodge is located along the Chitina River in the Wrangle-St. Elias National Preserve, and has its own airstrip. The airstrip is oriented east/west. It is 1,500 feet long, and 20 feet wide. The airstrip is comprised of part gravel bar, and part sand bar. The surface is uneven and soft. The pilot stated he touched down on the airstrip while landing toward the west. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered an uneven area of the gravel bar, and bounced into an area of the sand bar. The left wheel encountered an area of soft sand and rapidly decelerated. The tip of the left main wheel ski assembly dug into the ground, and the airplane then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the main landing gear, fuselage, and wings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80596](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80596-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 18503130, built 1976 (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: 18503130 - Airframe hours: 4101 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ultima Thule Outfitters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 27, 1998, 33 hours before - Departed: CXC, AK - Airport: Ultima Thule Lodge, runway 27, 1,500 × 20 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 2 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °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 19980621014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980621014479A), Jun 21, 1998: Cessna A185F, Chitina, AK, Substantial damage. Left wheel hit soft area landing on remote strip. Bounced. Wheel ski assembly dug in. Aiarcraft nosed over. (.4)the certificated commercial pilot was landing… ## Other investigations on N80596 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC08LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA085), Jul 4, 2008: Cessna 185 (N80596), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was an aerodynamic stall during the emergency… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.