# NTSB ANC90LA180: Cessna 185, N70087, Upper Colleen, AK, September 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1990, 20:21 local (Sep 18, 1990, 04:21 UTC)
- Place: Upper Colleen, AK
- Coordinates: 64.809783, -147.719558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8098&lon=-147.7196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5459
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5459/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA180

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO SELECT SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,axle - overload
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A ROUGH AND UNEVEN GRAVEL BAR, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING AXLE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET BEFORE GROUND LOOPING. EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN AXLE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70087](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70087-2011-06-16), registration cancelled 2011-06-16, S/N 18501953, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 01953
- Airframe hours: 5384
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-FCD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Rogar Dowding
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 1990, 23 hours before
- Departed: FYU, FORT YUKON, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 9,800 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19900917041189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900917041189A), Sep 17, 1990: Cessna A185E, Upper Colleen, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped landing on rough gravel bar. Impacts with rocks failed right main gear. Aircraft then ground looped.

## Other investigations on N70087 (3)

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 ANC93LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA170), Aug 30, 1993: Cessna 185 (N70087), Hulahula River, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH TERRAIN AND THE OBSCURATION.
- [NTSB ANC89LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA026), Dec 21, 1988: Cessna 185 (N70087), Porcupine Lodge, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW80DRD36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DRD36), Jun 3, 1980: Cessna 185 (N70087), Morgan City, LA, substantial damage

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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