ANC98LA029

The commercial pilot landed his wheel/ski equipped airplane on a frozen river. The pilot stated that after landing, he added power in an attempt to lift the tail, and turn the airplane in the opposite direction. The airplane's skis became stuck in grooves on the snow, and directional control was lost. The airplane's left wing struck a tree on the river bank and substantial damage was sustained to the leading edge. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported by the pilot to be calm.

On March 12, 1998, about 1430 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185, airplane, N21546, sustained substantial damage after colliding with a tree while landing on a frozen river at Cripple, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No FAA flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the McGrath airport, McGrath, Alaska, at 1230.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 13, 1998, at 1500, the pilot reported that during the landing roll, he added power in an attempt to lift the tail, and turn the airplane in the opposite direction. The airplane's skis became stuck in grooves on the snow, and veered from the intended direction, striking a tree and damaging the left wing's leading edge.

On March 23, 1998, the airplane was flown to a repair facility where an inspection was performed. During the inspection process it was discovered that a nose rib on the left wing sustained substantial damage, and was replaced.