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NTSB Report

July 1, 2006 · Cessna A185E · N1972U

Clear Lake, MN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 1, 2006
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Location
Clear Lake, MN
Aircraft
Cessna A185E
Tail Number
N1972U
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI06LA175

The amphibian airplane nosed over during landing on a turf runway. The pilot stated that during the landing the airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear, while he held the forward landing gear off the ground. The pilot reported that when the forward landing gear touched down the airplane "flipped onto its back." First responders reported that they found the airplane upside down, facing north. Local authorities reported that the airplane was located in the grass area prior to the gravel and asphalt sections of the runway. There were two distinct ground scars leading up to the main wreckage. The width between the two ground scars was consistent with the width between the airplane's two floats. Relative to the runway direction, the right and left ground scars were 103 and 92 feet long, respectively. An automated weather observation system located 7.2 nautical miles northwest of the airport, reported the winds were from 270 at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudged flare that resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. A factor to the accident was the grass runway that the forward landing gear dug into during the hard landing, resulting in the amphibian airplane nosing over.

Full Narrative

On July 1, 2006, at 0953 central daylight time, a Cessna A185E amphibian airplane, N1972U, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over while landing on runway 18 at Leaders/Clear Lake Airport (8Y6), Clear Lake, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The passenger died on July 23, 2006, as result of injuries sustained in the accident. The flight departed Jorgensen's Landing Seaplane Base (MY34), Prior Lake, Minnesota, at 0915. Runway 18/36 (3,000 feet by 150 feet) consisted of turf, loose gravel and asphalt surface materials. The first portion of runway 18 was turf (700 feet by 150 feet). There was a gravel strip (400 feet by 20 feet), followed by an asphalt strip (1,900 feet by 20 feet) along the center of the remaining portion of the runway. The airplane touched down and subsequently nosed over in the turf area immediately following the runway threshold. The airplane was equipped with amphibious floats. Each float was configured with a retractable landing gear system that comprised of a main gear and a forward gear. The pilot stated that he circled the airport to observe the runway and wind direction. The pilot reported flying a normal traffic pattern. The pilot stated that during the landing the airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear, while he held the forward landing gear off the ground. The pilot reported that when the forward landing gear touched down the airplane "flipped onto its back." First responders reported that they found the airplane upside down, facing north. Local authorities reported that the airplane was located in the grass area prior to the gravel and asphalt sections of the runway. There were two distinct ground scars leading up to the main wreckage. The width between the two ground scars was consistent with the width between the airplane's two floats. Relative to the runway direction, the right and left ground scars were 103 and 92 feet long, respectively. At 0953, the automated weather observation system at St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC), located 7.2 nautical miles northwest of 8Y6, reported the winds were from 270 at 9 knots. The pilot stated that "no cones were observed" marking the runway threshold. Photographs taken after the accident show several yellow cones marking the runway threshold. The airport manager stated that the cones were present at the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:53 CDT
Nearest AirportLeaders/Clear Lake (0nm)
Runway18
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A185E
Tail NumberN1972U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 minor injury)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.79 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data