Cessna A185F accident near Kent, Washington, August 24, 2024
On August 24, 2024 at about 5:10 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna A185F, registered N61323, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kent, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to properly configure the amphibious landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a touchdown on the water with the wheels extended, noseover, and airplane submersion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2024 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kent, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1980 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61323 · registry record · serial 18504147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been storing his amphibious float-equipped airplane at a nearby airport for about 7 weeks and was returning the airplane to his lakefront home less than 3 nautical miles (nm) away, intending to moor the airplane to serve as a photo backdrop for a private event the same day. Area weather at the time of the accident included light rain but met visual flight rules (VFR) criteria. On the morning of the accident, a pilot (and guest of honor of the event) told the accident pilot not to worry about flying the airplane over, given the rainy weather, but the accident pilot expressed no concern. Witnesses who watched the airplane depart reported that its landing gear was not retracted before they lost sight of it. As the airplane made its landing approach to the lake, witnesses observed that the landing gear was in the extended position and reported that the airplane “flipped” as soon as the floats began to contact the water. They reported that the airplane’s approach otherwise appeared normal. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear was extended at the time of touchdown and that the landing gear selector handle was in the “down” position. Although foreign objects (loose tools) were found in the engine cowling and left nosewheel gear well, their locations before the accident sequence are not known, and there was no evidence of any preimpact interference with the engine operation or landing gear mechanism. (An open bin of tools was found in the cabin.) Examination of the airplane and testing of the airplane’s landing gear position advisory unit revealed no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the evidence, the pilot left the landing gear in the extended position before the water 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
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear position and warning › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,886 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,373.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-550-D (piston); 136 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S36 Covington WA at 5:05 pm
- Destination: Kent WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 9:53 am from KRNT, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRNT 241653Z 16007KT 8SM -RA BKN025 OVC036 14/12 A2997
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | On Scene Summary Report | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Airframe and Engine Exam Summary Report | PDF, 12 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Gear Advisory Unit Exam Summary Report | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Appendix 1 Aerocet | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Bench Test Video Aerocet | MOV file · our copy | Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Party Form Textron | PDF, 14 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Party Form Aerocet | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.