# NTSB SEA82FA129: Cessna A185F, N9682Q, 11nm East Of Si, AK, July 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1982, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: 11nm East Of Si, AK
- Coordinates: 56.730476, -134.999099 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=56.7305&lon=-134.9991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 24, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA82FA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82FA129

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER DEPARTING SITKA THE ACFT PROCEEDED GENERALLY EAST VIA BLUE LAKE, BLUE LAKE PASS & THE "CUT", A RIDGE ORIENTED NE/SW WITH AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 3000 FT MSL. THE IMPACT SITE WAS ABOUT 1 NM SE OF THE CUT ON THE NORTH FACE OF THE VALLEY. BOTH STALL FENCES, LOCATED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF EACH WING WERE FOUND IMBEDDED IN THE GROUND. THEIR POSITION CORRESPONDED ROUGHLY TO WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCATED HAD THE ACFT FALLEN TO THE GROUND VERTICALLY & IN A RELATIVELY FLAT ATTITUDE. SEVERAL PLTS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE & BLUE LAKE PASS WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED TURBULENCE & STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS OF CLOUD SPILLOVER TO THE LEE SIDE OF THE CUT INDICITIVE OF DOWNDRAFTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9682Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9682Q-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 18503786, built 1979 (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: 18503786
- Airframe hours: 884
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Bellair
- Registered owner: Ken Bellows
- Departed: SIT, SITKA, AK
- Destination: BNF, WARM SPRINGS BA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,908 total, 2,800 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 138 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SIT, 11 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 19820724060209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820724060209A), Jul 24, 1982: Cessna A185F, Sitka, AK, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft crashed into side of mountain. Pilot reported severe turbulence at altitude above crash site.

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.