ANC95LA030

Factual narrative

On February 1, 1995, about 1234 hours Alaska standard time, an amphibious float equipped Cessna 185F, N1095F, crashed during a water landing at West Point Village seaplane base, Kodiak Island, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country cargo flight to West Point Village, under Title 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by MarkAir Express, Anchorage, Alaska, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at Kodiak airport, Kodiak Island, about 1212 hours. The pilot reported that he was landing in calm water conditions adjacent to several canneries and did not observe any obstacles in the landing area. After touchdown, he reduced power and as the airplane came off the float step, it veered sharply to the right. The pilot added full power and full left rudder. The airplane then turned back to the left, submerging the left float. The left wing tip and left horizontal stabilizer struck the water. The airplane was then beached and inspected. The inspection revealed damage to the left wing and left stabilizer. The left float was not damaged. According to the pilot/operator report submitted by the operator, the pilot had accrued 30 flight hours as pilot-in-command in the accident aircraft make and model. The pilot completed his initial operating experience in the accident aircraft make and model on October 11, 1994. THE PILOT WAS LANDING AN AMPHIBIOUS FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AT A SEAPLANE BASE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY CARGO FLIGHT. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS SLOWING AND CAME OFF THE FLOAT STEP, IT SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND FULL POWER TO CORRECT THE SWERVE AND SUBMERGED THE LEFT FLOAT. THE LEFT WING AND LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEACHED AND INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE STABILIZER AND WING. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 30 HOURS OF FLIGHT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL IN THE PREVIOUS 4 MONTHS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12