# NTSB SEA89LA032: Cessna 185F, N6420E, Juneau, AK, January 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Juneau, AK
- Coordinates: 58.579685, -134.770446 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5797&lon=-134.7704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA032

## Probable cause

THE MISJUDGEMENT OF THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS ON THE PART OF THE PILOT PRIOR TO LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY, BOX CANYON CONFIGURATION OF THE AREA PRECLUDING RUNWAY OVERFLIGHT, MARGINAL WEATHER/LIGHT CONDITIONS FOR ASSESSING THE RUNWAY STATUS AND FAILURE ON THE PART OF COMPANY DISPATCH PERSONNEL TO ACQUIRE AND PROVIDE THE PILOT WITH THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS BEFORE DIVERTING THE FLIGHT TO THE LOCATION OF THE MISHAP.

## Analysis

FAR 135 FLT WAS DIVERTED TO REMOTE STRIP TO PICK UP ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS. THE DISPATCHER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED BY 4 FT OF SNOW UNTIL THE ACFT WAS BEYOND RADIO RANGE. THE PLT ASSUMED THAT THE RWY HAD BEEN PLOWED AS IT WAS IN PREVIOUS WINTERS. THE BOX CANYON CONDITION OF THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN PRECLUDED THE PLT FROM OVER FLYING THE RWY TO CHECK ITS CONDITION. ON APPROACH THE RWY APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL SNOW PACKED SURFACE. THE PLT LANDED THE AMPHIB FLOAT ACFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - information insufficient
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, dispatcher (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flt with inadqt en route/destn facilities - dispatched, dispatcher (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6420E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6420E-1999-08-02), registration cancelled 1999-08-02, S/N 1875 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185F
- Registry model: [Parker Michael G RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/parker-michael-g-rv-4) (registry code 05608QX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504041
- Airframe hours: 3820
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Channel Flying, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 29, 1988, 60 hours before
- Departed: KAE, KAKE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Snettisham, runway 36, 2,500 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,400 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,250 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890110003849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890110003849A), Jan 10, 1989: Cessna 185F, Snettisham, AK, Substantial damage. Landed amphibious floatplane gear down on a unplowed runway and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N6420E (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA165), Apr 12, 1999: Parker Vans RV-4 (N6420E), Red Bluff, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A crack which developed in the automotive-type oil cooler of the experimental, amateur built aircraft and permitted the engine oil supply to flow overboard.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.