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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

August 12, 1990 · Cessna A185F · N5317R

Wrangell, AK

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 12, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Wrangell, AK
Aircraft
Cessna A185F
Tail Number
N5317R
Operator
Temsco Airlines
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA90FA163

The purpose of the flight was for the passenger to map the coastline. Prior to the flight, the pilot and passenger agreed that the flight was to be flown at 400 ft AGL and at 75 mph. During flight, the passenger missed an area and wanted the pilot to turn around. The pilot acknowledged and began an approximate 15 degree turn to the left toward the terrain. The passenger reported that at the beginning of the turn, the pilot did not apply power. While in between two small hills, the passenger felt light turbulence then suddenly the right wing raised and the nose fell toward the ground. The pilot at this point applied full power. The airplane continued in a left descending turn and collided into the water just offshore. There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions noted with the airplane during the post crash investigation. During the last 90 days the pilot logged a total of 279 hours, all in floatplanes. Three of those hours were in the Cessna 185.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE CESSNA 185 WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Full Narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PASSENGER TO MAP THE COAST LINE. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER AGREED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS TO BE FLOWN AT 400 FT AGL AND AT 75 MPH. DURING FLIGHT, THE PASSENGER MISSED AN AREA AND WANTED THE PILOT TO TURN AROUND. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED AND BEGAN AN APPROXIMATE 15 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE TERRAIN. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TURN, THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY POWER. WHILE IN BETWEEN TWO SMALL HILLS, THE PASSENGER FELT LIGHT TURBULENCE THEN SUDDENLY THE RIGHT WING RAISED AND THE NOSE FELL TOWARD THE GROUND. THE PILOT AT THIS POINT APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A LEFT DESCENDING TURN AND COLLIDED INTO THE WATER JUST OFF SHORE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED WITH THE AIRPLANE DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION. DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS THE PILOT LOGGED A TOTAL OF 279 HOURS, ALL IN FLOATPLANES. THREE OF THOSE HOURS WERE IN THE CESSNA 185.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A185F
Tail NumberN5317R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTemsco Airlines
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 5 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data