VALDEZ, AK, USA
N5081H
CESSNA 185A
THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON REACHING THE 20 DEGREE FLAP POSITION IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE AIRPLANE RAPIDLY NOSED DOWN INTO AN ALMOST VERTICAL DIVE. FULL AFT ELEVATOR FAILED TO CHANGE THE PITCH ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AND SANK IN WATER ABOUT 620 FEET DEEP AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. WHILE THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD 'PITCHED DOWN' ON SEVERAL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHILE HE WAS FLYING IT, THE OWNER AND THREE OTHER PILOTS WHO HAD FLOWN IT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE FLEW NORMALLY.
LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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