# NTSB ANC09LA083: Cessna 185, N8209U, McCarthy, AK, August 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2009, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK - Coordinates: 55.919334, -159.490463 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9193&lon=-159.4905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74535/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74535 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA083 ## Probable cause The separation of the right main landing gear wheel from the airplane during landing for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inability to control the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, passenger flight when the accident occurred. The pilot said the right main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane during landing, and the airplane spun to the right striking the left wing on the ground. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the landing gear leg failed at the top axle bolt holes, and that the gear had been inspected during the last 100 hour inspection. ## Factual narrative On August 16, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N8209U, sustained substantial damage during an off airport landing, about 15 miles northeast of McCarthy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Wrangell Mountain Air, Glennallen, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The commercial pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The flight departed McCarthy about 0900. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 18, the pilot said during the landing the right main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane. He said when the right gear leg dug into the ground the airplane spun to the right, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot said the landing gear leg fractured at the top axle bolt holes. He said the landing gear leg had been inspected during the last 100 hour inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8209U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8209U), registered now, S/N 185-0213, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0213 - Airframe hours: 7731 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Wrangell Mountain Air Inc, doing business as Wrangell Mountain Air - Registered owner: Wrangell Mountain Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 2009 - Departed: AK0, McCarthy, AK - Destination: McCarthy, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 10,241 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 10,200 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 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 20090816048469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090816048469A), Aug 16, 2009: Cessna 185, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. Approximately 15 miles NE of Mccarthy Alaska, the right side gear leg broke off during landing rollout at doubtful creek with 3 passengers and 1 pilot onboard.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74535. 589 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 589 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.