# NTSB CHI05CA175: Cessna A185F, N90MW, Elk Lake, MI, June 26, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 26, 2005, 14:46 local (18:46 UTC)
- Place: Elk Lake, MI
- Coordinates: 44.833332, -85.383331
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8333&lon=-85.3833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61996
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61996/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA175

## Probable cause

The gear retraction not performed by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - warning system(other) - not installed
  - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane which was equipped with floats impacted water during landing with the landing gear extended.  The airplane was not equipped with a landing gear warning system to indicate that the landing gear was extended.

## Factual narrative

On June 26, 2005, at 1448 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N90MW, owned and piloted by a private pilot, impacted Elk Lake, Minnesota, during an amphibious landing on Elk Lake with the landing gear wheels extended.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot was uninjured.  The local flight originated at 1446 and was retuning to Elk Lake.

The pilot stated that he landed with the landing gear extended.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane was not equipped with a landing gear down warning system, which is available through a supplemental type certificate.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90MW), registered now, S/N 18504073, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna A185F
- 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: 18504073
- Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles Lapham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Elk Lake, MN
- Destination: Elk Lake, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Co-pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,566 total, 700 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050626023859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050626023859A), Jun 26, 2005: Cessna A185F, Rapid City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft equipped with amphibious floats-landed gear down on the water, flipped over and sunk in elk lake.

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.

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