# NTSB ANC82DAG17: Cessna 185, N6978H, Paxson, AK, March 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1982
- Place: Paxson, AK
- Location: 63.0897° N, 145.6131° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Paxson, AK, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0897&lon=-145.6131&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72173
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DAG17
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72173/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG17

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING ON A SNOW COVERED, FROZEN LAKE, THE PILOT BEGAN TO TAXI TO THE DESIRED PARKING SPOT. WHILE TAXIING, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF SMOOTH ICE UNDER THE SNOW AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THE RIGHT SKI DROPPED THROUGH AN OVERFLOW AREA ON THE ICE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WING SPAR, AILERON, AND ELEVATOR WERE DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6978H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503347
- Airframe hours: 1777
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: W.T. Ellis
- Registered owner: W.T. Ellis
- Departed: GULKANA, AK
- Destination: CARTER, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Frozen Paxson Lake

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,342 total, 1,454 in this make and model, 4,152 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820315007309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820315007309A), Mar 15, 1982: Cessna A185F, Paxson, AK, Substantial damage. During taxi to parking, aircraft on skis hit ice and slid into ice overflow, causing wing to drop and strike ice.

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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