Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sitka, Alaska 99835
Thursday, June 19, 1997 14:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated commercial pilot (first pilot) was receiving training in preparation for a CFR Part 135 check ride in a float equipped airplane. The company's chief pilot (second pilot), was seated in the right front seat of the airplane. The second pilot briefed the first pilot about a training maneuver that was a simulated engine failure after takeoff from the water. After takeoff with 20 degrees of flaps selected, the second pilot pulled the engine throttle to idle about 60 to 100 feet above the water. The first pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and descended for landing. The first pilot landed the airplane on the water in a level attitude, but with an excessive rate of descent. The front float strut attach points separated from the fuselage, and the front of the fuselage pivoted downward, coming to rest on the front float spreader bar. The airplane received wrinkling damage to the fuselage aft of the float attach points.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot(s) to properly flare the airplane during a simulated forced landing. The excessive rate of descent on final approach was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone --
Event City SITKA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99835
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 135
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 932
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N60859
NTSB Number ANC97LA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185F
Aircraft Series Identifier 185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18504064
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 11 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 14380
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOUNTAIN AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2487
Aircraft Owner City SITKA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99835
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code M5VA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SIT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --