# NTSB ANC07LA035: Cessna A185F, N185M, Haines, AK, May 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 2007, 17:00 local (May 2, 2007, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Haines, AK - Coordinates: 59.005554, -137.807495 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.0056&lon=-137.8075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Juneau FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65686 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65686/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA035 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - sheared (cause) - Nose down, landing - roll - wing,wing rib - buckled - flight control,aileron - buckled - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The airplane was being operated by a mountain flying service delivering climbers and their equipment to a glacier base camp, under Title 14, CFR Part 135. The commercial certificated pilot said during the landing roll on the glacier, while turning to the left, the right ski loaded up with snow. He said the ski attachment to the right main landing gear broke, and the gear leg dug into the snow. The airplane nosed down, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier, damaging the wing and aileron. The pilot said an examination of the landing gear revealed that the ski attaching bolts had sheared. He said he had made several trips to the glacier that day, and that there were no problems with the airplane or the landing gear prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2007, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a ski-equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N185M, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear broke while landing on a glacier, about 74 miles west of Haines, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Mountain Flying Service, Haines, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot, and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Haines Airport, Haines, about 1600. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 2, the pilot said during the landing roll on the glacier, he started a left turn, and the right ski started loading up with snow. He said the ski attachment to the right landing gear broke, and the gear leg dug into the snow. He reported the airplane nosed down, and the right wing struck the surface of the glacier. The pilot said an examination of the landing gear revealed that the ski attaching bolts had sheared, and that the right wing and aileron received structural damage. He said he had made several trips to the glacier that day, and that there were no problems with the gear prior to the accident. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB. ## 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 A185F - 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: 9539 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Mountain Flying Service, doing business as Mountain Flying Service - Registered owner: Paul Swanstrom - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: PAHN, Haines, AK - Destination: Haines, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 7,700 total, 7,300 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 20070501007469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070501007469A), May 1, 2007: Cessna A185F, Haines, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Owner/operator reported aircraft nosed over on landing grand plateau glacier after right ski dug into snow and axle bolts pulled nuts off bolt. Damage to… ## 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 ANC00LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA105), Aug 17, 2000: Cessna 185 (N185M), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total fatigue failure of the right main landing gear leg. - [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.