# Accident 19980616013649A: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, June 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 1998, 12:15 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: Talkeetna Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: INYC
- Location: 62.4493° N, 149.7909° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7909&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185DG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185DG) (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 IO520D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980616013649A

## Narrative

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

DURING LANDING HEARD BANG. NO DAMAGE FOUND. ON DEPARTURE RIGHT SKI SEPERATAED. SWERVED. BOTHWER WINGS HIT SNOW. (FROM .4) DURING TAKEOFF FROM A GLACIER OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE, THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR LEG AND SKI SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND BOTH WINGS CONTACTED THE SNOW. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED MULTIPLE SITE FATIGUE CRACKS AT BOTH UPPER WHEEL ATTACHMENT BOLT HOLES ON THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR LEG.  THE AIRPLANE WAS ROUTINELY USED FOR OFF AIRPORT LANDINGS ON BOTH WHEELS AND SKIS.  THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED 6,561 HOURS IN OPERATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  NO LIFE LIMIT (HOURS OR CYCLES) EXISTS FOR CESSNA 185 LANDING GEAR LEGS.  THE ONLY INSPECTION FOR CRACKS IS A VISUAL INSPECTION FOR GENERAL CONDITION PERFORMED AT 100 HOUR AND ANNUAL INTERVALS.  THIS INSPECTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REMOVAL OF THE WHEELS/SKIS, NOR DOES IT REQUIRE REMOVAL OF ANY PAINT COATINGS PRIOR TO INSPECTION.                                                                     (-23) ON 06/16/98, AT 1215 ADT, A WHEEL-SKI EQUIPPED CESSNA A185F, N185DG, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE 7,000 FT. LEVEL OF THE KAHILTNA GLACIER. THE PILOT STATED DURING THE PREVIOUS LANDING, HE HEARD A "POP" SOUND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. AFTER SHUTDOWN, HE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND SKIS, BUT NOTED NO DISCREPANCIES. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT WHEEL-SKI SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP AFTER ROTATING 180', RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, LEFT WING, AND TAIL CONTROL SURFACES. ON-SITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT INDICATED THE SPRING STEEL GEAR LEG SEPARATED THROUGH THE UPPER AXEL ATTACH BOLT AREA. A CHECK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THE GEAR LEG HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND DYE-CHECKED 167 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ANC98LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA074), Jun 16, 1998: Cessna A185F (N185DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracking. A factor associated with this accident is the inadequate inspection procedure specified by the manufacturer.

## Other reports on N185DG (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20220201001369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220201001369A), Feb 1, 2022: Cessna A185F (N185DG), Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Paraphrased from pilot's comments letter. I was learning to fly a C-185PRIMARILY to become proficient in landing tail wheel aircraft. I had been undergoing…

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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