Cessna 185 accident near Ketchikan, Alaska, April 30, 1995
On April 30, 1995 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N111EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ketchikan, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT WATER LOOP/SWERVE DUE TO THE USE OF IMPROPER LANDING PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 1995 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ketchikan, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N111EZ · registry record · serial 1850753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN THE HARBOR BETWEEN TWO GUST AREAS INDICATED BY THE DISRUPTION ON THE WATER'S SURFACE. AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WATER SHE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS SURE THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND DRAGGED ITS RIGHT WINGTIP AND NOSED OVER. A WITNESS STANDING ON THE ADJACENT DOCK SAW THE LEFT FLOAT AND LEFT WING STRIKE THE WATER FIRST. THE PILOT STATED THAT HER INSTRUCTOR TAUGHT HER TO LAND WITH A FLAT NOSE PITCH ATTITUDE SO THE FLOATS WOULD NOT GET 'SUCKED IN.' THE AIRPLANE MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIRPLANE SHOULD BE LANDED SLIGHTLY TAIL LOW.
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: 1,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 995 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1994; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Island Wings Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: Peninsula Point AK at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.