# Accident 20250307002559A: Cessna A185F, Skwentna, AK, March 7, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2025, 18:00 local time
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.7650° N, 151.5776° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7650&lon=-151.5776&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1718R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1718R) (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
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,081 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA030) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250307002559A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED HE WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT FROM A FROZEN LAKE NEAR HIS CABIN LOCATED A FEW MILES WEST OF SKWENTNA, AK ON MARCH 7TH, 2025. THE AREA USED FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING WAS COVERED WITH THREE FEET OF SNOW ON TOP OF FIRM ICE THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY GROOMED BY SNOWMOBILE. AT APPROXIMATELY 2400 LOCAL TIME THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE SOUTH END OF THE STRIP. ONCE AT THE SOUTH END, HE TAXIED OFF OF THE GROOMED AREA TO TURN AROUND FOR TAKEOFF.  WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BACK TO THE STRIP, THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR LEG COLLAPSED. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND HE, ALONG WITH TWO PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. INSPECTION REVEALED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER FUSELAGE IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT-HAND LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND FORWARD RIGHT-HAND DOOR PILLAR. THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED BY CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.  A THIRD PARTY ASSISTING WITH THE RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE FOUND AN ELASTIC STOP NUT BENEATH THE FLOOR OF THE CABIN NEAR THE RIGHT-HAND LANDING GEAR ATTACH POINT. THE BOLD THAT ATTACHES THE GEAR LEG TO THE FUSELAGE STRUCTURE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED REMAINING ATTACHED TO THE GEAR LEG. INSPECTION OF THE NUT AND BOLD INDICATED SEVERE WEAR AND DAMAGED THREADS ON BOTH COMPONENTS. THE BOLD THREAD RIDGES ARE FLATTENED AND SHOW STRIATIONS CONSISTENT WITH CROSS THREADING DAMAGE.  A SEARCH OF THE CESSNA ILLUSTRATED PARTS CATALOG SHOWS THE NUT AND BOLT FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ARE NOT THOSE SPECIFIED FOR THE LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT APPLICATION. INSPECTION OF THE IDENTICAL ASSEMBLY ON THE LEFT-HAND LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT FOUND THE BOLT TO BE OF THE PROPER SIZE AND TYPE; HOWEVER, THE NUT SECURING THE BOLT IN GEAR LEG WAS AN ELASTIC STOP NUT THAT IS NOT OF THE TYPE SPECIFIED IN THE PARTS CATALOG. LENGTH OF TIME THE CONDITION EXISTED IS UNKNOWN.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ADVISED OF FINDINGS.

## 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 ANC25LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA030), Mar 7, 2025: Cessna A185F (N1718R), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s reuse of worn hardware during the installation of the landing gear assembly and the hardware’s failure and subsequent separation of the gear leg from the landing gear box…

## Other reports on N1718R (1)

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

- [Incident 19850331013879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850331013879I), Mar 31, 1985: Cessna A185F (N1718R), Loonsong Lake, AK, Minor damage. During taxi a gust of wind caused wingtip to strike surface. Axle bolt broke, aircraft went up on nose.

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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