# NTSB ANC98LA029: Cessna 185, N21546, Mcgrath, AK, March 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 1998, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Mcgrath, AK - Coordinates: 63.61074, -154.780303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6107&lon=-154.7803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3122/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing. Factors associated with the accident are the presence of snow covered terrain, a tree, and the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21546](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21546), registered now, S/N 18503062, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - 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: 18503062 - Airframe hours: 4421 - Engines: Continental IO-520D-24B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary F. Chamberlain - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1997, 231 hours before - Departed: MCG, MCGRATH, AK - Destination: CRIPPLE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,370 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 90 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 19980312006879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980312006879A), Mar 12, 1998: Cessna A185F, Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. Struck tree landing on frozen river. During landing roll. Added power. Swered to avoid obstacle. Struck the tree. (.4)the commercial pilot landed his wheel/ski… 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.