# NTSB ANC94LA048: Cessna A185F, N8191Q, Paxson, AK, April 8, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1994, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Paxson, AK
- Coordinates: 63.700355, -144.889694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7004&lon=-144.8897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA048

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DID NOT MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE FROM THE SNOW BERM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOW BERM.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BERM DURING A SKI TAKEOFF ON SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SUPPORT STRUT WAS SHEARED FROM ITS FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT FITTING RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR BOX.

## Factual narrative

On April 8, 1994, at 1100 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N8191Q, operated by Gulkana Air Service, collided with a snow berm during takeoff from the Broxson Creek private landing strip located about 20 miles west of Gulkana, Alaska.  The commercial certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The intended destination for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was Gulkana, Alaska.  The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident and a flight plan was on file with the Gulkana Flight Service Station.

On the afternoon of April 8, 1994, the NTSB investigator- in-charge conducted a telephone interview with the pilot.  The pilot said that the flight was being conducted to check on miners located near Broxon Creek.  During the takeoff from the strip, the left main landing gear support strut assembly was ripped from its fuselage attachment fitting causing substantial damage to the landing gear box frame.  The flight diverted to and performed a landing on the frozen surface of Lake Louise with out further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8191Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8191Q-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 18503635, built 1978 (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: 18503635
- Airframe hours: 4394
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-D5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Gulkana Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: King, David W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 21, 1994, 10 hours before
- Destination: GULKANA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,470 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °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 19940408000029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940408000029A), Apr 8, 1994: Cessna A185F, Paxson, AK, Substantial damage. During takeoff from remote strip the left wheel ski gear was torn out of gear box. Landed safe on frozen lake.

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.