# Accident 19970327003839A: Cessna A185F, Birchwood, AK, March 27, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 27, 1997, 14:00 local time
- Place: Birchwood, AK
- Airport: Birchwood Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1099° N, 149.9000° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1099&lon=-149.9000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4855C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4855C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Reported engine: CONT IO520*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,527 total, 500 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970327003839A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SKI WHEEL EQUIPPED 185 ON TEST FOR WHEEL SKI ATTACHMENT. CHECK CABLES TOO LONG. SKIS PITCHED UP. DUG IN LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA040), Mar 27, 1997: Cessna 185 (N4855C), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper installation of the main landing gear wheel penetration skis, which allowed the skis to rotate to a vertical position in flight and subsequently separate during landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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