# NTSB SEA84FA171: Cessna A185F, N61509, Ketchikan, AK, July 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1984, 16:55 local (Jul 12, 1984, 00:55 UTC)
- Place: Ketchikan, AK
- Coordinates: 55.60934, -131.580886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6093&lon=-131.5809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39813
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39813/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA171

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - , pilot in command (cause)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT HAD SELECTED AN EMPTY TANK. HE THEN SWITCHED TANKS BUT FLOODED THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF NOT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES IN THE AIRCRAFT MANUAL. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO AN APPROPRIATE LANDING SITE, HE LANDED IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE FLOATS COLLIDED WITH HIDDED OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE AIRCRAFTNOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61509](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61509-1984-11-28), registration cancelled 1984-11-28, S/N 18504221 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504221
- Airframe hours: 4468
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aviaton Associates, Ltd., doing business as Westflight Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Max A. & Emily I. Lukin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 2, 1984, 43 hours before
- Departed: 5KE, KETCHIKAN, AK
- Destination: CLOVER BAY, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: Ketchekan International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,800 total, 4,800 in this make and model, 8,700 as pilot in command, 275 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KTN, 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 19840711064109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840711064109A), Jul 11, 1984: Cessna A185F, Ketchikan, AK, Destroyed. Engine quit on climb after takeoff. Crash occurred during emergency landing. Pilot had only one fuel tank selected.

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.