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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 12, 2000 · Cessna 185F · N20752

Barrow, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 12, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Barrow, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Tail Number
N20752
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC00LA099

At the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight, the airline transport certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The landing area was a large area of tundra with eight to ten inch tall grass, next to a fishing camp. The day before the flight, the entire north coast of Alaska had received heavy rain. The pilot said he landed into the wind, toward the north. During the landing roll, as the pilot was applying the brakes, the airplane bounced over an unseen bump and became airborne about 12 inches. When the airplane touched down again, the main wheels encountered soft mud. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the propeller, wing lift struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was a hidden obstruction, and soft terrain.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2000, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N20752, sustained substantial damage during landing at Cape Simpson, a remote area about 41 miles east of Barrow, Alaska, about latitude 71 degrees, 04 minutes north, and longitude 154 degrees, 45 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Cape Smythe Air Service Inc., Barrow. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Wiley Post/Will Rogers Memorial Airport, Barrow, at 1955. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 14, 2000, the pilot reported that he originally intended to transport the passenger to Cape Simpson, and then continue to Deadhorse, Alaska. Due to high winds reported in Deadhorse, the pilot decided to only fly to Cape Simpson and return to Barrow. The landing area was a large area of tundra with eight to ten inch tall grass, next to a fishing camp. The day before the flight, the entire north coast of Alaska had received heavy rain. The pilot said he landed into the wind, toward the north. During the landing roll, as the pilot was applying the brakes, the airplane bounced over an unseen bump and became airborne about 12 inches. When the airplane touched down again, the main wheels encountered soft mud. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the propeller, wing lift struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:25 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185F
Tail NumberN20752
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data