Casualties unknown

Beach Landing Ends in Nose-Over During Mail Delivery (N4759E)

Kasitsna Bay, AK, US

On November 14, 1988, a Cessna A185F (registration N4759E) operated by Cook Inlet Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Kasitsna Bay, AK. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot delivering mail by air experienced a skip during touchdown on a beach, followed by a nose-over. The pilot suggested a soft spot on the beach may have contributed to the incident.

Incident Overview

A pilot landing on a beach to deliver mail reported that during touchdown, the aircraft skipped approximately 50 feet before settling to the ground. The aircraft then remained in contact with the ground and rolled straight ahead. During the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over.

Pilot Account

The pilot indicated that the nose-over might have been caused by the aircraft wheels hitting a soft spot on the beach while he was applying brakes. The usable landing area on the beach was reported to be about 900 feet. The pilot had landed on the beach many times during his eight years of employment with the company, indicating familiarity with the landing site.

Conditions

No additional details regarding the aircraft type, registration, occupant injuries, or weather were provided in the report.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X27182. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.