# NTSB BFO95LA007: Cessna A185F, N9667Q, N New Portland, ME, October 23, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 1994, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: N New Portland, ME
- Location: 44.9251° N, 70.0231° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North New Portland, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9251&lon=-70.0231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9011
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9011/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA007

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to verify the landing gear was in the proper position for landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear not retracted, landing
  - gear retraction - not verified, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels down landing in water
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED FROM A PAVED AIRPORT EARLIER.  HE STATED THAT HE COMPLETED THE CHECKLIST AND RETRACTED THE GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF BUT HE DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THE GEAR HAD POPPED.  UPON TOUCHDOWN IN THE POND THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE WATER AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.  THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO HIS FREQUENT LANDINGS ON PAVED RUNWAYS HE MISINTERPERTED THE LANDING GEAR GREEN INDICATOR LIGHTS.

## Factual narrative

On October 23, 1994, at 1345 eastern daylight time, N9667Q, a Cessna A185F, an amphibian airplane with retractable landing gear, crashed during landing in a pond in North New Portland, Maine.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured.  The airplane sustained substantial damage.  The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and had originated in Norridgewock, Maine.

The pilot reported that he departed from a paved airport earlier.  He stated that he completed his after takeoff checklist which included retracting the landing gear.  The pilot stated that he failed to notice that the circuit breaker had popped for the landing gear.  Upon touchdown on the pond the landing gear struck the water and the airplane nosed over.

According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector who examined the airplane after the accident stated that the landing gear handle was in the up position and the landing gear motor circuit breaker was popped.  He stated that when power was applied to the airplane the landing gear motor operated normally.  The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had a positive reinforcement of the green gear lights.  He stated that due to numerous paved airport landings he fell into a trap.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9667Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503785
- Airframe hours: 1844
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Austin J Lopez
- Registered owner: Austin J Lopez
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1994, 1 hours before
- Departed: OWK, NORRIDGEWOCK, ME
- Destination: NO NEW PORTLAND, ME

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,530 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,530 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19941023048619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941023048619A), Oct 23, 1994: Cessna A185F, New Portland, ME, Substantial damage. Amphibious floats failed to note gear not retracted due popped circuit breaker. Nosed over landing in a pond.

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.