# NTSB ERA14CA021: Cessna A185F, N93037, Northeast Carry, ME, October 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2013, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Northeast Carry, ME - Coordinates: 44.694328, -69.382179 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6943&lon=-69.3822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to take off for an intended night water landing, and his subsequent loss of depth perception during that landing attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, night was approaching when he landed the seaplane on a lake and taxied to shore to find out he was at the wrong destination. The pilot began to taxi along the shore, but then decided to take off again to regain his bearings and land at his intended destination. At the time of the takeoff, night had already fallen, the moon was full, there were no clouds and lighting was flat. Surface conditions were "full glass" with no ripples, and the airplane's navigation lights and landing lights were illuminated. The pilot flew the airplane out over the lake, intending to make a 180-degree turn and land back towards a dock. During the final turn, he lost "visual height reference," and after leveling the wings, he set up for a low-sink-rate, glassy water landing. He thought the airplane was about 100 feet above the water when it was only "mere feet" above the surface, which the airplane impacted at a high speed and a high sink rate. Upon impact, the floats tore off the airplane, which then nosed over. Both occupants exited, and as they were swimming to shore, they were picked up by a boat. The pilot did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration publication FAA-H-023 states, "night landings in seaplanes on open water are extremely dangerous with a high possibility of damage or loss of the seaplane. A night landing should only be performed in an extreme emergency when no other options are available." It also notes that glassy water conditions can make accurate depth perception very difficult, even for experienced pilots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, night was approaching when he landed the seaplane on a lake and taxied to shore to find out he was at the wrong destination. The pilot then began to taxi along the shore, but then decided to take off again to regain his bearings and land at his intended destination. At the time of the takeoff, night had already fallen, the moon was full, there were no clouds and lighting was flat. Surface conditions were "full glass" with no ripples, and the airplane's navigation lights and landing lights were illuminated. The pilot flew the airplane out over the lake, intending to make a 180-degree turn and land back towards a dock. During the final turn, he lost "visual height reference," and after leveling the wings, he set up for a low-sink-rate, glassy water landing. He thought the airplane was about 100 feet above the water when it was only "mere feet" above the surface, which the airplane impacted at a high speed and a high sink rate. Upon impact, the floats tore off the airplane, which then nosed over. Both occupants exited, and as they were swimming to shore, they were picked up by a boat. The pilot did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration publication FAA-H-023 states, "night landings in seaplanes on open water are extremely dangerous with a high possibility of damage or loss of the seaplane. A night landing should only be performed in an extreme emergency when no other options are available." It also notes that glassy water conditions can make accurate depth perception very difficult, even for experienced pilots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93037](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93037-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N 18503168, built 1976 (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: 18503168 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5971 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Coleman - Registered owner: Coleman Sarah B DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2012 - Departed: Northeast Carry, ME - Destination: Northeast Carry, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 277 total, 109 in this make and model, 213 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 28.30 inHg - Observed at: GNR, 16 nm away ## 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 20131019024139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131019024139A), Oct 19, 2013: Cessna A185F, Northeast Carry, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on moosehead lake in Northeast Carry Maine 30 to 40 minutes after offical sunset. Aircraft hit the water with a high rate of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88294. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maine State Police Continuation Report (item 2, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maine%20State%20Police%20Continuation%20Report-Redacted.PDF - U.S. Naval Observatory Sunset Information (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=U.S.%20Naval%20Observatory%20Sunset%20Information-Master.PDF 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.