# NTSB ANC26LA022: Cessna A185F, N94237, Skwentna, AK, March 28, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 28, 2026, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK · Canyon Lake
- Coordinates: 61.897117, -151.61852
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8971&lon=-151.6185&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202711
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202711/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202711
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA022

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll due to contact with wind hardened snow berm and subsequent failure of main landing gear.

## Findings

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

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2072821), [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 A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing the wheel ski-equipped airplane on a remote snow-covered lake, shortly after touchdown he said the nose of the airplane began to yaw to the right. As the airplane was about 90° into the right turn the pilot heard a loud bang behind and to his right. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear axle had sheared off the gear leg and that the forward right bungee and cabled became disconnected which allowed the ski to impact the top of the right wing which resulted in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot said he found a wind hardened snow berm that he believed the right ski impacted on landing which caused the right axle bolts to shear from the gear leg. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94237](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94237), registered now, S/N 18503294, built 1977 (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: 18503294
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 2785
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ryan J Brett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 2025
- Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK
- Destination: Private Strip, AK
- Airport: NONE
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 875 total, 375 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 12 °F, dew point -2 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: ATK, 50 nm away
- METAR: METAR PATK 281853Z 00000KT 10SM CLR M11/M19 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP276 T11061194 $

## 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 20260328002869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260328002869A), Mar 28, 2026: Cessna A185F, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. The flight was a personal flight with one passenger to the pilot’s cabin near sqwentna, Alaska. The weather conditions were day VFR and the wind was calm. The…

## Other investigations on N94237 (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 DEN88LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA124), Jun 4, 1988: Cessna A-185F (N94237), Phillipsburg, MT, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA78DYE32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78DYE32), Jul 23, 1978: Cessna 185 (N94237), Oak Harbor, WA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202711. 3.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC26LA022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20182722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20186903&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20photographs-Rel.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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