# NTSB GAA19CA513: Cessna A185, N1920Q, Rangeley Lake, ME, August 22, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2019, 19:39 UTC - Place: Rangeley Lake, ME - Coordinates: 44.693206, -69.381057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6932&lon=-69.3811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100153 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA513 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100153/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100153 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA513 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the floats, which led to his subsequent attempt to depart from a lake with damaged floats and led to a loss of roll control and the right wing impacting the water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while departing from a lake, the float-equipped airplane was not "gaining airspeed as usual" and that the takeoff run was taking "longer." Before attempting to abort the takeoff, the left float lifted off the water, followed by the right float. While in ground effect, the floatplane started to roll right. The pilot corrected with full left aileron, but the floatplane continued to roll right. He then reduced power and applied 40º of flaps, but the floatplane continued to roll right, so he increased the throttle to full, and the right wing impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that the floatplane impacted rocks while he was back taxiing to the dock after a previous flight but that he did not realize the floats had been damaged. Before the accident flight, he conducted a preflight inspection and did not find any residual water in the floats, but he did not examine the bottom of the floats because they were submerged in water. Photographs showed that the right float's keel was damaged. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amphibious-float equipped airplane reported that, while departing from a lake, the floatplane was not "gaining airspeed as usual" and that the takeoff run was taking "longer." Prior to aborting the takeoff, the left float lifted off the water, followed shortly by the right float. While in ground effect, the floatplane started to roll to the right. He corrected with full left aileron, but the floatplane continued to roll to the right. He then reduced power and applied 40º of flaps and still the floatplane rolled right so he increased the throttle to full and the right wing impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Two witnesses reported that, about one hour prior to the accident flight, the same floatplane controlled by the same pilot, water taxied over rocks near the floatplane deck. The pilot added that the lake was 2 to 3 feet lower than normal and while water taxiing back to the floatplane deck, he saw the rocks but did not realize it caused any damage to the floats. After the flight, he did not find any residual water in the floats but did not examine the rest of the floats because it was under water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1920Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1920Q), registered now, S/N 18503502, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - 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: 18503502 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 2582 - Engines: Continental IO–520–D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Acadian Aircraft Leasing Llc, doing business as Acadian Seaplanes, LLC - Registered owner: Acadian Aircraft Leasing Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 2019 - Departed: M57, Rangeley, ME - Destination: BGR, Bangor, ME - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: M57, Rangeley Lake, runway 24W, 7,000 × 1,000 ft, water - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 22,824 total, 2,099 in this make and model, 16,659 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: K8B0, 2 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 20190822012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190822012139A), Aug 22, 2019: Cessna A185F, Rangeley, ME, Destroyed. Prior to the accident flight, two witnesses observed the aircraft taxiing into the seaplane dock and striking submerged rocks approximately 200 yards from the… ## Other investigations on N1920Q (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA90LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA024), Nov 29, 1989: Cessna A-185-F (N1920Q), Seattle, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100153. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480136&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Witness 1 Record of Memorandum (item 4, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%201%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Witness 2 Record of Memorandum (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%202%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-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.