Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williston, North Dakota 58801
Thursday, November 8, 1984 10:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A BRIDGE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AFTER FAILING TO GET AIRBORNE. THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BUTTHE ACFT FAILED TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A RAILROAD BRIDGE ABUTMENT MADE OF CONCRETE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO SUB-FREEZING TEMPS WITH WATER INSIDE THE PONTOONS. THE SWELLING FROM THE FREEZING WATER (ICE) COMPROMISED THE FLOATS WHICH DEVELOPED LEAKS OF SEVERE NATURE; ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE ACFT TO SINK IN AN EST TWO HOURS. THE REASON THE ACFT DID NOT SINK WHEN LEFT UNATTENTED FOR 2 WKS WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AGROUND. WHEN THE PLT PUMPED THE WATER (NO ICE INSIDE ACCORDING TO HIM) OUT AND LAUNCHED THE ACFT HE MADE NO FURTHER PRE-FLT CHECKS BUT IMMEDIATELY STARTED A TAKEOFF TAXI.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/8/1984
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City WILLISTON
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58801
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 11
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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 125
Airport Elevation 1900
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1051 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 305
Weather Observation Facility ID ISN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 281
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2375
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26305
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5831T
NTSB Number DEN85LA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 185C
Aircraft Series Identifier 185C
Aircraft Serial Number 1850731
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCJARD ZIESMER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 501 29TH AVE, CT., NE,
Aircraft Owner City PUYALLUP
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98372
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P O BOX 763
Operator City HOUMA
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70360
Operator Code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City GREAT FALLS
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --