Cessna 185 N9855X

Summary

On 9 June 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N9855X, operated by Hudson Air Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, 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.

Date

9 June 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chickaloon, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.7392, -148.2196

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N9855X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hudson Air Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talkeetna → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA067

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent activation of the fuel boost pump selector switch during final approach, which resulted in an overly rich mixture and subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing at an elevation of 6900 feet msl on the Matanuska Glacier. He said that while on short final for landing, the engine lost power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the airplane landed hard, about 500 feet short of the intended touch down point. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage. He said that after landing and while securing the cockpit controls, he discovered that the fuel boost pump switch was placed in the 'high boost' position. The Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook, stated, in part: 'If the engine-driven fuel pump switch is placed in the ON position, a fuel/air ratio considerably richer than best power is produced unless the mixture is leaned.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.