# NTSB ANC11CA018: Cessna A185F, N5182H, Aniak, AK, March 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 19, 2011, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Aniak, AK
- Coordinates: 61.581665, -159.54306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5817&lon=-159.5431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78643/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78643
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA018

## Probable cause

The inadvertent contact with a rut in the snow while taxiing, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md)
- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While the pilot was taxiing the ski-equipped airplane to the runway, he inadvertently hit a rut in the snow, and the right main landing gear collapsed. He stated that he was taxiing the airplane fast enough to keep the tail off the ground. He said that the right main landing gear failed at the fuselage attach point, and the right wing struck the ground resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron.

## Factual narrative

While the pilot was taxing the ski-equipped airplane to the runway, he inadvertently hit a rut in the snow, and the right main landing gear collapsed. In a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was taxiing the airplane fast enough to keep the tail off the ground. He said that the right main landing gear failed at the fuselage attach point, and the right wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. Due to its remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5182H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5182H), registered now, S/N 18503326 (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: 18503326
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vanderpool Robert W
- Registered owner: Vanderpool Robert W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PANI, Aniak, AK
- Destination: Red Devil, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: PANI, Aniak

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,700 total, 1,700 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PANI

## 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 20110319008769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110319008769A), Mar 19, 2011: Cessna A185F, Aniak, AK, Substantial damage. After refueling, the pilot was taxiing in gusty winds to the ski strip for takeoff. During taxi, a ski hit a rut and the rt. Gear collapsed. Damage was to the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78643. 558 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.

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