Cessna 185 accident near Port Alsworth, AK
On September 1, 2002, a Cessna 185 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, AK. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 1, 2002
- Place
- Port Alsworth, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 60.112°N, 154.672°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020910X01579
NTSB summary
On September 1, 2002, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N185CF, sustained substantial damage during a collision with tree-covered terrain, about 14 miles southwest of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14, CFR Part 91, visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Keyes Point, Lake Clark, Alaska, located about 5 miles southeast of the accident site, at 0850, and was en route to Long Lake. No flight plan was filed. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 1, the pilot reported that he just departed Lake Clark, and had leveled the airplane about 1,000 feet above the ground. As the airplane crossed over a small ridge, the pilot said he encountered a severe downdraft. The airplane began to descend, and he banked the airplane to the left to avoid a low hill. He applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend. The pilot said he could not maintain altitude, and the airplane collided with the ground and nosed over. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated he did not obtain a weather briefing. He reported that the weather conditions included unlimited visibility, a temperature of 50 degrees F, a wind of 3 to 5 knots from the
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the area weather conditions, and his subsequent inability to maintain terrain clearance upon encountering a downdraft, which resulted in an in-flight collision with tree-covered mountainous terrain. A factor in the accident was a downdraft.
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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.
