# NTSB ANC92LA078: Cessna 185, N124KT, Kahiltna Glacie, AK, May 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1992, 11:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Kahiltna Glacie, AK
- Coordinates: 62.450672, -149.789932 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4507&lon=-149.7899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5729
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5729/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA078

## Probable cause

THE FRACTURE OF THE LANDING GEAR WHEEL SKI PIVOT SHAFT DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,ski assembly - fractured (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

DURING A TAKEOFF RUN ON THE KAHILTNA GLACIER THE LEFT WHEEL SKI PIVOT SHAFT FRACTURED AND FAILED CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO DRAG ON THE SNOW. EXAMINATION OF THE PIVOT SHAFT SHOWED THAT THE METAL WAS 4300 SERIES STEEL, THE TWO KEYWAYS WERE MACHINED DIFFERENTLY, AND THE RADIUS ON THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL STEP WAS IRREGULAR.  THESE AREAS DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS SET FORTH IN THE MANUFACTURER'S BLUEPRINTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N124KT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503765
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Jim And Julie Okonek, doing business as K2 Aviation
- Registered owner: Jim And Julie Okonek
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 2000
- Destination: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,856 total, 850 in this make and model, 6,610 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °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 19920524016199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920524016199A), May 24, 1992: Cessna A185F, Kahiltna Glacie, AK, Substantial damage. Ski pivot shaft left wheel ski failed on takeoff. Dragged right wing and elevator.

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.