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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 30, 1995 · Cessna 185 · N111EZ

Ketchikan, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Ketchikan, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 185
Tail Number
N111EZ
Operator
Island Wings Air Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC95LA051

THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN THE HARBOR BETWEEN TWO GUST AREAS INDICATED BY THE DISRUPTION ON THE WATER'S SURFACE. AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WATER SHE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS SURE THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND DRAGGED ITS RIGHT WINGTIP AND NOSED OVER. A WITNESS STANDING ON THE ADJACENT DOCK SAW THE LEFT FLOAT AND LEFT WING STRIKE THE WATER FIRST. THE PILOT STATED THAT HER INSTRUCTOR TAUGHT HER TO LAND WITH A FLAT NOSE PITCH ATTITUDE SO THE FLOATS WOULD NOT GET 'SUCKED IN.' THE AIRPLANE MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIRPLANE SHOULD BE LANDED SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT WATER LOOP/SWERVE DUE TO THE USE OF IMPROPER LANDING PROCEDURES.

Full Narrative

On April 30, 1995, at 0815 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N111EZ, registered to and operated by Island Wings Air Service of Ketchikan, Alaska, nosed over during landing in the harbor at Ketchikan. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Peninsula Point, Alaska, and the destination was the Ketchikan Harbor. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane received substantial damage. According to the pilot, she was landing on the harbor using full flaps. The pilot described the wind in the channel as southeasterly at 10 knots and a "little gusty." She stated she could see two gust areas on the water near the shoreline and intended to land between those areas. The pilot stated that at 70 knots she "flattened" the landing attitude of the airplane. As the floats touched down on the water she reduced the power to idle, the airplane rolled sharply to the right and dragged the right wingtip in the water. The airplane then nosed over. The pilot stated that she saw the gust areas by viewing the disruption on the water's surface but did not feel that the gusts were significant. She stated that when the wind blows from an easterly direction in the channel, the harbor winds will be from the southeast. Then the wind blows around Mountain Point and there are gusts along the town side of the harbor. According to a witness, who was standing on the dock immediately adjacent the area of intended landing, he stated the following: "I saw an airplane landing. The left float touched down first, it cut hard to the left. The left wing hit the water, it bounced up then the right wing hit the water. The plane bounced back to the left wing and flipped over on its top." Examination of the polaroid photographs submitted by the operator shows crushing and bending damage to the left wingtip. The right wingtip shows no damage. During a telephone interview with the pilot, she stated that she was sure that the airplane rolled to the right and that the right wingtip touched the water first. She also stated that she landed with a flat nose pitch attitude because the instructor who taught her stated that he did not want the nose of the floats to get "sucked in." According to the Cessna owner's manual supplement for the 185 floatplane, it states that during landing the airplane should touch down slightly tail low. After touchdown the control wheel should be held full aft as the floatplane decelerates to taxi speed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:15 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185
Tail NumberN111EZ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorIsland Wings Air Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 10 kt
Visibility35 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data