Cessna A185F accident near Kodiak, Alaska, August 28, 2002
On August 28, 2002, a Cessna A185F, registered N7300R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his operation of the airplane in an over gross condition. A contributing factor was noncompliance with written company weight and balance procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2002
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7300R · no longer on the register · serial 18502989
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot was conducting an on-demand air taxi flight with three passengers and cargo, and was maneuvering a float-equipped airplane for landing at a remote lake. A ground witness reported that he observed the airplane in a left bank near the end of the lake. He said the airplane began a left turn with about a 30 degree, nose-up attitude, about 75 feet above the ground, and he thought the airplane was going to stall. The airplane descended toward the ground in a nose-down attitude, and disappeared from his view behind trees. The witness found the airplane, nose down, with the contents of the airplane, except for several small propane bottles and matches, retained inside the airplane. The pilot reported that upon approach to landing, the airplane entered an area of "tremendous sink." He said he applied full power and tried to arrest the sink, but the airplane continued to sink into the trees. He indicated the wind was blowing at an estimated 20 to 25 knots from the north, and was burbling over a hill to the northeast of the lake. An FAA inspector, assisted by Coast Guard personnel, collected and weighed the cargo contents of the airplane. The cargo, consisting of camping and fishing equipment, including personal possessions, totaled 430 pounds. The combined weight of the pilot and passengers totaled 828 pounds. The fuel weight was calculated as 240 pounds. The airplane's gross weight was 3,350 pounds. At the time of the accident, the airplane's weight was calculated as 3,716 pounds. The accident airplane was equipped with two front seats, and was configured for the installation of two individual, second row seats. No second row seats were found in the airplane or at the scene. The attaching screws for the rear seats were found in a pouch behind the pilot's seat. No cargo restraints were found in the airplane. The company operations manual contains a statement indicating that overloaded aircraft would not be tolerated. Wind conditions reported at the closest official weather observation station, 30 miles away, indicated 020 degrees at 3 knots. The ground witness did not recall any significant wind conditions at the scene. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact mechanical discrepancies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 130 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,654 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C-Air
The flight
- Departed from: AKN King Salmon AK at 6:27 pm
- Destination: Uganik Lake AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PADQ, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.