Summary
On May 20, 2004, a Cessna 185E (N1932U) was involved in an incident near King Salmon, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff and initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control, and an in-flight collision with water. A factor contributing to the accident was gusty wind conditions.
On May 19, 2004, about 2100 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N1932U, sustained substantial damage during takeoff-initial climb from a beach near Ugashik Lake, Alaska, when the main landing gear contacted the lake, and the airplane nosed over into the lake. The accident site is about 70 miles southwest of King Salmon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 at the time of the accident. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC04LA055. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1932U.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff and initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control, and an in-flight collision with water. A factor contributing to the accident was gusty wind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On May 19, 2004, about 2100 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N1932U, sustained substantial damage during takeoff-initial climb from a beach near Ugashik Lake, Alaska, when the main landing gear contacted the lake, and the airplane nosed over into the lake. The accident site is about 70 miles southwest of King Salmon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 at the time of the accident. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was bound for Anchorage, Alaska.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 20, the pilot said he was taking off from a beach protected on the windward side by an earth berm. He said as the airplane became airborne, and the left wing rose above the berm, it was caught by a gust of wind and lifted abruptly. He said as the wing lifted, the airplane was pushed over the lake and then descended. The pilot said the main landing gear entered the water, and the airplane nosed over. He said the airplane came to rest inverted in about 3 feet of water, and sustained damage to the wings and tail.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC04LA055