Cessna A185F N61609

Summary

On 5 June 1999 at about 18:35 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N61609 was involved in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 1999 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Soldotna, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Longmare Lake

Coordinates

60.3194, -150.7894

Aircraft

Cessna A185F

Registration

N61609

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Campbell Lake → Longmare Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99FA070

1 person died.

The improper recovery from a bounced water landing by the pilot. Factors associated with this accident were the pilot's failure to release his seatbelt due to the obstructed location of the pilot's seatbelt buckle.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was landing the float equipped airplane on choppy water with a left-quartering headwind of 10 knots. The airplane landed hard on the left float, bounced into the air, and landed on the right float. The right wing contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest with the left wing submerged and the right wing pointed into the air. The three passengers on board released their seatbelts, and exited the right cabin door. Both the pilot and the right-front seat passenger were unable to locate, release, or cut the pilot's seatbelt. The pilot was described by one passenger as 'awake, and alert, and fully cognizant of the situation; able to cooperate but unable to complete the task for whatever reason.' The airplane slowly rolled inverted and remained afloat. The passengers, and a rescuer from shore, were unable to open the pilot's locked door, or remain submerged in the 40 degree Fahrenheit water. The diver who removed the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that when he released the pilot's seatbelt, the pilot was removed without difficulty. Postaccident inspection by the IIC revealed that once unlocked, the door could be opened normally. Reaching the pilot's door handle required the occupant to twist his torso to the left, and reach behind his shoulder. The pilot's seatbelt release buckle could be opened with one hand and less than 10 pounds of force. The pilot's buckle was located aft of his left hip, and sandwiched between the left door and the seat. With the door closed, the seatbelt buckle was masked under the door armrest. The Cessna inertial reel, seatbelt/shoulder harness assembly was installed according to the manufacturer's specifications. FAA Advisory Circular AC-21-34 states in part: 'A proper installation geometry for the diagonal shoulder harness positions the shoulder belt so that it passes over the midpoint of the shoulder, with the lower end fastened well to the side of the occupant's hip.' Toxicology tests revealed the presence of phentermine, a prescription stimulant, similar to amphetamines, was present in the pilot's blood and urine. No record of a prescription was found. The pilot was a pharmacist. The Physician's Desk Reference contains the following contraindications regarding phentermine: '...agitated states...phentermine hydrochloride may impair the ability of the patient to engage in potentially hazardous activities such as operating a motor vehicle; ...Caution is to be exercised in prescribing...for patients with even mild hypertension.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.