Cessna A185F N1687M

Summary

On 1 August 1991 at about 23:15 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N1687M, operated by Gaedeke, Bernd A., was involved in an accident near Amitchiak Lake, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 1991 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Amitchiak Lake, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna A185F

Registration

N1687M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gaedeke, Bernd A.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC91FA115

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING; THEREBY LOSING CONTROL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE MOUNTAIN WAVE, AND INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE FROM WHICH TO RECOVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AMITCHIAK LAKE IS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY WITH A FIELD ELEVATION OF 2,500 FEET. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE NORTH, NORTHWEST. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF INTO THE WIND AND HAD TO MAKE A TURN TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS DIRECTLY DOWNWIND OF RISING TERRAIN. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND WAS FLYING IN A SOUTH, SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION OVER THE WATER WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WENT DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED INTO THE WATER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITY WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE, AND OTHER SYSTEMS ON THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.