Cessna A185F accident near Fairbanks, AK
On October 6, 2022, a Cessna A185F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, AK. 1 person died.
- Date
- October 6, 2022
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- —
- Position
- 64.813°N, 147.921°W
- NTSB ID
- 20221006106074
Official records · ANC23FA001
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 05, 2022, about 1758 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N217C, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness located next to the waterway stated that the pilot attempted and subsequently aborted the first takeoff. The pilot then began taxiing back to the point of the initial takeoff run. The witness stated that the engine appeared to be operating at full power during the takeoff attempt. During the taxi back following the aborted takeoff, the airplane’s attitude was nose-low and the floats were almost completely submerged underwater. Another witness on the other side of the float pond noted that the accident airplane’s floats looked almost fully submerged under water as the airplane taxied. The witness said that the airplane was using more than normal power to taxi in the water and that the elevators appeared to be in the full nose-up position. He then heard the engine power decrease, saw the airplane start to nose over, heard the power increase, and then observed the airplane completely nose over into the water. When the airplane was pulled up on the shore, a witness observed four large streams of water coming out of the front of both floats. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAbout 95 pounds of cargo was located in the left float hatch. A total of about 838 pounds of cargo was in the airplane. AIRPORT INFORMATIONAbout 95 pounds of cargo was located in the left float hatch. A total of about 838 po
Probable cause
The improperly maintained floats, which allowed water to fill the front compartments and resulted in the airplane nosing over during taxi. Contributing to the fatal injury of the pilot was the improperly secured cargo, which prevented the pilot from egressing the airplane following the nose-over.
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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.
