Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Cessna A185F Skywagon, N5457X: Fatal accident occurred May 21, 2019 in Whittier, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas 




Location: Whittier, AK
Accident Number: WPR19FA152
Date & Time: 05/21/2019, 1300 AKD
Registration: N5457X
Aircraft: Cessna A185
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On May 21, 2019, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna A185F, N5457X nosed over during a water landing in Cascade Bay near Whittier, Alaska. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and another passenger was fatally injured. The privately-owned airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. The cross-country flight departed Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska, about 1210 with a planned destination of Cascade Bay. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he planned to fly with the two passengers for a sightseeing trip in the Prince William Sound area, and then land on the water in Cascade Bay to view a waterfall. He was an acquaintance with both passengers, and had flown them in the same airplane a few years prior.

The preflight inspection and takeoff were uneventful, and the pilot reported that both passengers were talking throughout all stages of the flight. They approached Cascade Bay for a landing to the west, and the pilot performed his before-landing checks. Confirmation of the landing gear position was included in the checklist, and while he could recall performing the check, he did not have a specific recollection of the landing gear status. The water was rough, so he planned to land the airplane slightly faster than normal. However, as soon as the floats touched the water, he felt a jolt, and the airplane then violently nosed over. The cabin immediately filled with water, and he was able to egress by forcing out the door window. After spending a moment at the surface, he swam back down into the airplane and was able to pull the passenger located in the aft seat free. He attempted to free the passenger in the front right seat, but he appeared to be already unconscious.

Review of photographs taken a few hours after the accident revealed that the airplane had come to rest inverted, with the entire fuselage submerged and only the floats remaining above water. The four wheels of the landing gear appeared in the extended, runway landing position. (See Figure 1).


Figure 1 - Airplane at the Accident Site

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N5457X
Model/Series: A185 F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAVD, 37 ft msl
Observation Time: 2156 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 43 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / 4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 240°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 30000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:None 
Departure Point: Wasilla, AK (PAWS)
Destination: Cascade Bay, AK

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 60.910556, -147.770833

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. 

Pilot Scott Johannes 
(Courtesy Mat-Su Health Foundation)

A 75-year-old passenger who was on board a Cessna Skywagon when it crashed into Cascade Bay within Prince William Sound near Valdez on Tuesday has died.

William Resinger, of Palmer, died after being trapped inside the plane when it overturned in the water. According to an updated trooper dispatch on Wednesday, CPR efforts on Resinger were unsuccessful.

The plane was carrying two others at the time of the crash — 56-year-old pilot Scott Johannes of Wasilla and another passenger.

Troopers say Johannes was flying the aircraft with the two passengers when he attempted to land in the bay, but crashed into the water. He and the surviving passenger were able to escape.

Four nearby vessels, two Coast Guard boats and several good Samaritans responded to the scene of the crash. Johannes and the surviving passenger were airlifted by the Alaska Air National Guard to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Troopers say Resinger's family has been notified of his death. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have also been notified.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.


Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.ktva.com



A 75-year-old Mat-Su borough man was killed in a Tuesday floatplane crash in Prince William Sound.

Alaska State Troopers ID’ed the deceased as William Resinger of Palmer. He was one of two passengers aboard a Cessna 185 Skywagon that went down over Cascade Bay about 20 miles southwest of Valdez.

Coast Guard spokeswoman Charly Hengen said the pilot and both passengers were underwater but four vessels in the area immediately responded.

“Sector Anchorage issued out what’s called an urgent marine information broadcast and some good Samaritans were in the area and they were able to provide assistance to the people,” she said. “Also an Alaska Air National Guard rescue helicopter crew was launched by sector Anchorage watchstanders, they were able to medevac two of the people and those people were taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.”

Initial reports came in to the Cordova Police Department, which received a 911 call. State Troopers say the aircraft crashed as pilot Scott Johannes of Wasilla was attempting to land in Cascade Bay.

First responders performed CPR on Resinger, who was unresponsive. A Coast Guard boat transferred him to the Whittier Hospital Medical Center. He was later declared deceased.

“Unfortunately, that’s always sad news to hear once we transfer a person off to hear that news,” Hengen said.

The other two were flown to an Anchorage hospital. Their condition and the identity of the second passenger have not been released.

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. It’s the third fatal floatplane crash in Alaska this month.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.alaskapublic.org

Authorities have identified the man killed in a plane crash off of Cascade Bay in Prince William Sound. The victim has been identified as William Resinger, 75 of Palmer.

According to the Alaska State Troopers, Resinger was a passenger on board the plane, piloted by Scott Johannes age 56, of Wasilla, with the tail number of N5457X.

Troopers say the plane had two passengers on board when the plane attempted to land in the bay, instead crashing into the water. Johannes and the other passenger were able to escape, but AST reports Resinger was trapped inside the plane, which was turned upside down in the water.

Good Samaritans responded in boats, and Resinger was eventually taken from the downed plane. CPR was initiated, but AST said it was not successful.

Johannes and the surviving passenger were transported to an Anchorage hospital. The two reported general injuries, according to the USCG.

This marks the third fatal plane crash in Alaska in just 8 days.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.ktuu.com

4 comments:

  1. Gear is down, hence it flipped. Maybe forgot gear up to land on water and gear down to land on land.

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  2. can't even count the number of times I've seen photos of Skywagons upside down in water with the wheels out. Sad, such a common and horribly fateful oversight in this make. RIP.

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  3. My Dad has more than 27,000 hours and will not put amphibians on his 185 for this exact reason. It takes one lapse in concentration and instantly you are upside down in cold dark water.

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  4. 185 skywagon is one of my all time favs!
    Hope she flys again!

    ReplyDelete