On October 5, 2001, a Cessna 185 (registration N1966U) was involved in an aviation accident near Port Alsworth, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot touched down too fast. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot landing a floatplane on a remote lake touched down too fast, causing the aircraft to nose over. The pilot escaped, but the airplane sank and was not recovered.
Accident Details
A commercial certificated pilot was landing a float-equipped airplane on the surface of a remote lake. The water surface was smooth and glassy. The pilot reported that he touched down too fast, and the airplane subsequently nosed over.
Pilot Actions
The pilot, who was wearing an inflatable jacket, exited the inverted airplane and climbed onto the floats. The airplane sank within approximately two minutes. The pilot then swam for about 40 minutes to reach the shore.
Aircraft Status
According to the pilot, the airplane is resting in about 250 feet of water and has not been recovered.
Probable Cause
The pilot's statement indicates that the accident was caused by touching down too fast, leading to the nose-over.