Cessna 185 accident near Tatitlek, AK
On April 9, 1997, a Cessna 185 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tatitlek, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: minor.
- Date
- April 9, 1997
- Place
- Tatitlek, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Minor
- Position
- 60.880°N, 146.651°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07638
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 9, 1997, about 1255 Alaska daylight time, an amphibian float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N59AK, and a float equipped Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N5025K, collided in mid air about 12 miles northwest of Tatitlek, Alaska, near geographic coordinates 60.57.36 North, and 146.43.59 West. The Cessna received minor damage to the right amphibian float; the commercial pilot and the private pilot passenger (observer) aboard were not injured. The airplane continued on to Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska, and landed without incident. The Bellanca airplane was destroyed, and the two occupants, a commercial certificated pilot and a passenger (observer), were fatally injured. The Bellanca fell into the waters of Prince William Sound, and the victims were removed by nearby fishing boats. The airplane was recovered by a landing craft type boat and taken to Valdez, Alaska. The two airplanes were operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plans were in effect for either airplane. The pilot of the Cessna, and the observer, were interviewed on April 9th by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) at the Birchwood Airport. The pilot reported he had started flying about 0900, and had stopped for lunch and fuel at a fishing vessel in Galena Bay. After the stop, he resumed his fish spotting duties. The pilot stated he and the pilot of the Bellanca airplane were among a group of 20 or more airplanes all flying in the same general area near Galena Bay to spot herring (the airplanes fly in support of nearby fishing vessels, and th
Probable cause
The command pilots of both airplanes inadequate visual outlook which led to their failure to see and avoid each other's airplane. A factor associated with the accident was sunglare.
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Browse: Alaska · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
