NTSB Factual Report

On October 10, 2004, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N5001R, operated by Le Conte, LLC, as a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained substantial damage during an uncontrolled descent and subsequent impact with water, after takeoff from a remote river near King Salmon, Alaska. The commercial pilot received serious injuries; the three passengers reported no injuries. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed for the local flight.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on October 18, the pilot related that the purpose of the flight was to go fishing. He stated that he was very familiar with Cessna 185 airplanes, but the accident airplane was a friend's airplane, and he did not bring his personal checklist with him. He said he relied on memory aids to complete the pretakeoff checklist. He noted that it was the first flight of the morning, and that the cabin was fairly dark in the morning light. He said in preparation for takeoff, he failed to notice that the control wheel lock for the elevator and ailerons had not been removed. He said he was able to get the airplane airborne, but it pitched up and climbed rapidly, and he could not get the nose down due to the locked control wheel. He reduced the power setting, and the nose pitched down. He said he realized the control lock must be place, and he was able to remove the control lock and pitch the nose to a level attitude just before the airplane struck the water. The impact collapsed both floats and damaged the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that the control lock used by the airplane owner was a non-standard control lock. It was a screwdriver, with the shaft placed through the hole in the control wheel column.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to use a checklist, and to remove the flight control locks prior to flight, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with terrain/water.