# NTSB ANC00LA105: Cessna 185, N185M, Yakutat, AK, August 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2000, 17:00 local (Aug 17, 2000, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Yakutat, AK - Coordinates: 59.509796, -139.709854 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5098&lon=-139.7099&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50984 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50984/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA105 ## Probable cause The total fatigue failure of the right main landing gear leg. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - fatigue (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The pilot said that during landing on firm sand, the right landing gear leg separated at the wheel attachment upper bolts. The remaining gear leg dug into the sand, and the airplane spun around. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both main landing gear attachments, and both wings. The NTSB materials laboratory found areas of fatigue at both upper bolt holes. Corrosion pitting was found at one of the fatigue sites. The airplane had been operated on skis in the past. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2000, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N185M, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off airport landing site on the Alsek River, Alaska, at 59 degrees, 04 minutes north latitude, 138 degrees, 19 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135, by Mountain Flying Service, Inc., of Haines, Alaska, as an on demand sightseeing flight. The flight originated from Haines, Alaska, about 1500, with a planned landing at the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on August 21, that during the landing on firm sand, the right landing gear leg separated at the wheel attachment upper bolts. The remaining gear leg dug into the sand, and the airplane spun around. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both main landing gear attachments, and both wings. The fractured lower leg was examined at the NTSB materials laboratory on September 12, 2000. Areas of fatigue were found at both upper bolt holes. Corrosion pitting was found at one of the fatigue sites. Pink, non-destructive inspection, dye penetrant residue was found inside the bolt holes. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that the airplane had been operated on skis in the past. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185M-2008-02-11), registration cancelled 2008-02-11, S/N 18504264, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504264 - Airframe hours: 6500 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Paul Swanstrom - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 2000, 50 hours before - Departed: HNS, HAINES, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20000816042379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000816042379A), Aug 16, 2000: Cessna A185F, Yakutat, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During a beach landing, the right wheel struck a rock, breaking the right gear leg at the axle. The right gear leg dug into the sand, tearing off at the… ## Other investigations on N185M (2) 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 ANC07LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA035), May 2, 2007: Cessna A185F (N185M), Haines, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The main landing gear attachment bolts to the right ski sheared during the landing roll in deep snow, resulting in a nose down, and structural damage to the right wing and aileron. - [NTSB SEA86LA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA192), Aug 4, 1986: Cessna 185FII (N185M), Reno, NV, destroyed 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.