Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Related factors were: the direct left crosswind, and the soft sand.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The tundra tire equipped airplane landed on the beach with a direct, left, crosswind. The left main landing gear contacted soft sand, and the airplane veered left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 19, 1997 at 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 airplane, N3RY, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a beach landing on the Ayakulik River, twenty three miles south of Karluk, Alaska, at position 57-12.0 degrees north latitude, 154-32.0 degrees west longitude. The airplane was equipped with 29 inch tundra tires. The commercial certificated pilot and two passengers were uninjured. One passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by Whistler Air Service, Inc., of Fritz Creek, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi to deliver the passengers to a fishing lodge. The flight originated from Larsen Bay, Alaska, at 1310. Visual meteorological condition prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was on file with the FAA Kenai, Alaska, Flight Service Station. During a telephone interview with the NTSB on August 19, 1997, the pilot indicated that he was landing to the north, one wheel track distance inside of the beach crown. The winds were a direct, left crosswind of 20 knots. The pilot stated that during his landing roll, the left tire contacted soft sand, and the airplane veered left. He said that the rudder became noneffective and the right wing came up. The left wingtip subsequently dragged the ground, and the airplane nosed over. -