Cessna A185F accident near Friday Harbor, Washington, August 1, 1982
On August 1, 1982 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered CGZDT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friday Harbor, Washington (Friday Harbor/Seaplane B. airport). It was an executive or corporate 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1982 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Friday Harbor, Washington · Friday Harbor/Seaplane B. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- CGZDT · no longer on the register · serial 18503721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS MAKING A WATER LANDING, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL UNTIL AFTER TOUCHDOWN. AS THE ACFT DECELERATED "OFF THE STEP," THE RIGHT FLOAT ROSE OFF THE WATER AS IF IT ROAD OVER A SWELL OR ENCOUNTERED AN OBJECT. WHEN THE FLOAT CONTACTED THE WATER AGAIN, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL REPORTEDLY DUG INTO THE WATER. THE RIGHT WING TIP THEN CONTACTED THE WATER & THE ACFT PIVOTED 180 DEG BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE ACFT THEN OVERTURNED AS THE PILOT WAS EXITING. THE PLT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS BOATS IN THE AREA & HE HAD TO SEQUENCE AMONG THEM DURING THE LANDING.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,640 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days; 660 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,104 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Frazier Timber CO., LTD
The flight
- Departed from: YYJ Victoria at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 0J4 Florala AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 6,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°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.