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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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May 3, 1988 · Cessna 185F · N9030R

Larson Bay, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 3, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality), 1 uninjured
Location
Larson Bay, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Tail Number
N9030R
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC88FA052

A float equipped Piper PA-18-150 and float equipped Cessna 185F were involved in a midair collision at an altitude of approximately 800 feet MSL over Larson Bay, AK. At the time of the midair collision, both aircraft were being used as fish spotters for several fishing boats in the area. The PA-18-150 was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured. The Cessna 185F received no damage and the pilot was not injured. Both aircraft were flying parallel to each other with the Piper slightly lower. According to the Cessna pilot, he spotted the Piper below him when the Piper turned to the left. The Cessna pilot said he then turned right and pulled up but his left float contacted the Piper's right wing. The impact did not seem severe according to the Cessna pilot and the only damage he noted on the Piper was to the outboard end of the right wing. The Piper, however, continued a left spiral to the water. The Cessna pilot said he thought the boats should warn the pilots on a common radio frequency when two aircraft are in close proximity.

Full Narrative

A FLOAT EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150 AND FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 185F, WERE INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET MSL OVER LARSON BAY, AK. AT THE TIME OF THE MIDAIR COLLISION BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BEING USED AS FISH SPOTTERS FOR SEVERAL FISHING BOATS IN THE AREA. THE PA-18-150 WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE CESSNA 185F RECEIVED NO DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. BOTH ACFT WERE FLYING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WITH THE PIPER SLIGHTLY LOWER. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT HE SPOTTED THE PIPER BELOW HIM WHEN THE PIPER TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THEN TURNED RT AND PULLED UP BUT HIS LEFT FLOAT CONTACTED THE PIPER'S RT WING. THE IMPACT DID NOT SEEM SEVERE ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT AND THE ONLY DAMAGE HE NOTED ON THE PIPER WAS TO THE OUTBOARD END OF THE RT WING. THE PIPER, HOWEVER, CONTINUED A LEFT SPIRAL TO THE WATER. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THE BOATS SHOULD WARN THE PLTS ON A COMMON RADIO FREQ WHEN TWO ACFT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:45 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185F
Tail NumberN9030R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150 | Continental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality), 1 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class
Crew 2Age 31 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data