# NTSB ANC96LA033: Cessna 185, N93829, Cripple, AK, March 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1996, 16:19 local (20:19 UTC) - Place: Cripple, AK - Coordinates: 63.609157, -154.779983 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6092&lon=-154.7800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2807/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA033 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. ## Analysis The pilot was carrying dog food supplies in support of the Iditarod Race. He flew to the checkpoint and was unable to find the landing area normally used due to a fresh snowfall. He elected to land on a ice covered slough. There was no snow on the slough. The pilot stated he bounced hard because there was no snow to cushion the touchdown. During the landing roll, the pilot could not stop the airplane on the ice and it slid into the scrub spruce trees at the end of the landing area. The pilot described the braking action as poor to nil. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1996, at 1619 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N93829, registered to Gussic Ventures of Anchorage, Alaska, and operated by Hagelund Aviation, of McGrath, Alaska, overran the landing area and crashed into trees while attempting to land on a slough near Cripple, Alaska. The accident site is located approximately 42 miles from McGrath on the 310 degree radial of the McGrath VOR. The air taxi flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, departed McGrath and the destination was Cripple. A company VFR flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on March 15, 1996, he stated that he was unable to find the landing area normally used due to a fresh snowfall. He decided to land on a frozen slough and bounced hard because there was no snow to cushion the touchdown. The airplane's wheels protruded through the bottom of the skis, as designed, and because there was no snow cover on the ice covered slough, the braking action was poor to nil. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane and it slid into the scrub spruce trees at the end of the slough. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93829](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93829-2000-09-20), registration cancelled 2000-09-20, S/N 18503254 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503254 - Airframe hours: 9748 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D24N 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hageland Aviation - Registered owner: Gussic Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 1996, 68 hours before - Departed: MCG, MCGRATH, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,901 total, 248 in this make and model, 2,855 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °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 19960313005819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960313005819A), Mar 13, 1996: Cessna A185F, Cripple, AK, Substantial damage. Unable find usual landing area due fresh snow. Coverran landing in a slough due wheels extend below skis. No snow. ## Other investigations on N93829 (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 ANC97FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA009), Nov 30, 1996: Cessna 185 (N93829), Marshall, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. - [NTSB ANC78DAG35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DAG35), Sep 10, 1977: Cessna A185F (N93829), Cordova, AK, 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. --- 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.