Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
Sunday, June 29, 2003 8:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot, with the airplane owner as the passenger, was maneuvering a float-equipped airplane near several boats. The occupants of the airplane said that they intended to land near the boats to inquire about fishing. The pilot reported that after flying by several boats, he attempted a landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane was "thrown back up into the air sharply." The passenger reported that the pilot was making a no-flap landing when the floats hit a submerged log. The passenger indicated that the pilot pulled the airplane upward into the air, but it then stalled, about 75 feet above the water. The airplane descended, nose down, collided with the water and then inverted. Occupants of the nearby boats came to the aid of the pilot and passenger. An FAA inspector contacted several witnesses who were occupants of the boats. One witness indicated that the accident airplane was observed to fly over other boats in the area at an altitude of 25 feet. The airplane continued at that height for about 150 yards and then suddenly pulled straight up, exceeding 90 degrees vertical. The airplane then rolled and descended to the water from about 100 feet. The witness indicated that the airplane did not touch down on the water before the sudden pull up. A second witness reported to the FAA that the accident airplane flew directly over several boats at an altitude of about 15 to 30 feet. The airplane continued to fly level for a short distance and then suddenly pitched straight up. Seconds later, the airplane stalled and descended to the water. The witness indicated that the airplane did not strike an object in the water because it never got lower than 15 to 30 feet when it buzzed the boats.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's abrupt, excessive pull-up during an intentional low level maneuver, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone --
Event City KETCHIKAN
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99901
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 555450N
Event Location Longitude 1313434W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14510
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 942
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-JUN FSDO 05

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48061
NTSB Number ANC03LA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18501693
Certified Max Gross Weight 3950
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 5 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 127
Airframe Hours 6033
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVEN K. SHRUM
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City KETCHIKAN
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99901
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GARY G. BOLES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City KETCHIKAN
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99901
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City KETCHIKAN
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City BELL ISLAND
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2003 4:56PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --