# NTSB ANC00LA002: Cessna A185E, N85CG, Yakutat, AK, October 7, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1999, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Yakutat, AK
- Coordinates: 59.509212, -139.709686 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5092&lon=-139.7097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA002

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area.  A factor associated with the accident was soft terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The certificated commercial pilot, with three passengers aboard, was landing on a remote soft, sand-covered river bank.  After touchdown and during the landing roll, the right main landing gear leg collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.

## Factual narrative

On October 7, 1999, about 1310 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna A185E airplane, N85CG, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport site located about 20 miles east of Yakutat, Alaska, at 59.31 north latitude, 139.05 west longitude.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by Gulf Air Taxi, Inc., Yakutat, Alaska.  The certificated commercial pilot, and three passengers aboard, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.  The flight originated at the Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, about 1245.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 7, the pilot said he was landing to the east on a soft, sand-covered river bank.  He said that after touchdown and during the landing roll, the right main landing gear leg collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85CG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85CG-2009-10-09), registration cancelled 2009-10-09, S/N 185-01927, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna A185E
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18501927
- Airframe hours: 5943
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Gulf Air Taxi, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 1999, 56 hours before
- Departed: YAK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,630 total, 1,630 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19991007046679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991007046679A), Oct 7, 1999: Cessna A185E, Yakutat, AK, No damage. (-23) After landing at the italio river landing strip near Yakutat, the airplane was decelerating on a roll-out when right wheel casting broke and departed the…

## Other investigations on N85CG (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 ANC01LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA090), Jul 26, 2001: Cessna 185 (N85CG), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with the accident were trees.

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.

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