1999-12-23: Cessna 185 — Dennis Perry — Chenega Bay, AK

Casualties unknown • Chenega Bay, AK, US

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area during the incoming tide. Factors associated with the accident were the incoming tide wave, and the pressure induced by the delays encountered picking up the passengers.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The air taxi pilot was picking up two passengers from a remote beach site. The flight had been delayed for five days due to bad weather. The accident flight takeoff was attempted during an incoming tide. During the takeoff roll, a wave washed across the beach in front of the airplane. The pilot wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Report that he was 'too slow to fly, and too fast to stop.' He said he rotated the airplane off the ground and applied additional flaps in an attempt to takeoff over the water. The airplane settled, the wheels contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-12-23 Cessna 185 accident near Chenega Bay, AK?

The air taxi pilot was picking up two passengers from a remote beach site. The flight had been delayed for five days due to bad weather. The accident flight takeoff was attempted during an incoming tide. During the takeoff roll, a wave washed across the beach in front of the airplane. The pilot wrote in his NTSB…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-12-23 involved a Cessna 185, registration N70021, operated by Dennis Perry, at Chenega Bay, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area during the incoming tide. Factors associated with the accident were the incoming tide wave, and the pressure induced by the delays encountered picking up the passengers.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X20188. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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