Cessna 185 N79PK
5 March 1989 · Bellingham, Washington, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 5 March 1989 at about 00:52 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N79PK, operated by Reginald T. Pfeiffer, was involved in an accident near Bellingham, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:52
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bellingham, Washington, United States
- Nearest airport
- Bellingham (BLI)
- Coordinates
- 48.7900, -122.4108
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185
- Registration
- N79PK
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Reginald T. Pfeiffer
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hillsboro → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA89LA054
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF LIFT DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE WINGS, HIS FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT, AND POOR INFLIGHT DECISION MAKING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FATIGUE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT ICE HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE AIRPLANE DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FATIGUED FROM THE LONG FLIGHT. THE PASSENGER ESTIMATED THE ICE WAS ABOUT 1 TO 2 INCHES THICK AND THAT ON THE BASE TO FINAL TURN THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. THE RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT BEFORE THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE APPROACH LIGHTS BEFORE COMING TO REST.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 185 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185 | Fishers, New York, United States | Paul V. Hyland | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1989 | Cessna 185E | Alexander Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1989 | Cessna 185 | Trinity Lake, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1989 | Cessna 185F | Kahiltna Glac, Alaska, United States | Doug Geeting Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185D | Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States | Raymond J. Descheneaux | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1989 | Cessna 185F | Toksook Bay, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,004 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D | Vancouver, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1989 | Cessna 140 | Amboy, Washington, United States | Larry Cahoon | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1989 | Cessna 172 | Bremerton, Washington, United States | Flight Tech, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Cessna A-185-F | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Nov 1989 | Hiller UH-12E | Raymond, Washington, United States | Glacier Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1989 | Aero Commander 600 S-2D | Walla Walla, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |