Cessna A185 accident near Whittier, AK
On May 21, 2019, a Cessna A185 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Whittier, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 21, 2019
- Place
- Whittier, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 60.911°N, 147.771°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190521X02331
Official records · WPR19FA152
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 21, 2019, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped Cessna A185F, N5457X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Whittier, Alaska. The pilot sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and another passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he planned to fly the two passengers for a sightseeing trip in the Prince William Sound area, and then land on the water in Cascade Bay to view a waterfall. He was an acquaintance with both passengers and had flown them in the same airplane a few years prior. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection and takeoff were uneventful. He stated that both passengers were talking throughout all stages of the flight, and as they approached Cascade Bay for landing, he performed the before-landing checks. Confirmation of the landing gear position was included in the checklist, and while he could recall performing the check, he did not have a specific recollection of the landing gear status. The pilot stated that the two passengers continued to talk throughout the descent, and he later surmised that he was likely distracted by their conversation. The water was rough, so he planned to land the airplane slightly faster than normal; however, as soon as the floats touched the water, he felt a jolt, and the airplane violently nosed over. The cabin immediately filled with water, and he was able to egress by forcing out the door window. After spending a
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction due to his talking passengers.
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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.
