# NTSB ANC98LA074: Cessna A185F, N185DG, Talkeetna, AK, June 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1998, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449302, -149.790878 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3159/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA074 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracking. A factor associated with this accident is the inadequate inspection procedure specified by the manufacturer. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - maintenance,inspection - inadequate (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - fatigue (cause) ## Analysis During takeoff from a glacier off airport landing site, the right landing gear leg and ski separated from the airplane and both wings contacted the snow. Postaccident inspection revealed multiple site fatigue cracks at both upper wheel attachment bolt holes on the right landing gear leg. The airplane was routinely used for off airport landings on both wheels and skis. The airplane had accumulated 6,561 hours in operation at the time of the accident. No life limit (hours or cycles) exists for Cessna 185 landing gear legs. The only inspection for cracks is a visual inspection for general condition performed at 100 hour and annual intervals. This inspection does not require removal of the wheels/skis, nor does it require removal of any paint coatings prior to inspection. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1998, at 1215 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N185DG, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the 6,900 feet msl level of the Kahiltna Glacier, 50 miles northwest of Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 135 by Douglas Geeting Aviation, Inc., of Talkeetna, as an on demand charter transporting mountain climbers from the Kahiltna Glacier to Talkeetna. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported to the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge during a telephone interview that during his landing roll on the glacier he heard a "bang." He stated that he inspected the airplane and skis, and found no damage. During acceleration for takeoff from the glacier, after reaching 45 knots, the right ski separated from the airplane, the airplane swerved right, and both wings contacted the snow. Inspection of the fractured landing gear leg at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory on July 13, 1998, revealed multiple site fatigue cracking at the location of both landing gear attachment bolt holes. The airplane had accumulated 6,561 hours of operation at the time of the accident. There is no established life limit (hours or cycles) for Cessna 185 landing gear legs. There is no inspection requirement or procedure to detect fatigue cracks in the landing gear legs except for a visual inspection conducted during 100 hour and annual inspections. No nondestructive inspection technique requiring removal of wheels or skis, or removal of paint coatings to facilitate crack detection, had been specified by the manufacturer or FAA at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185DG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185DG), registered now, S/N 18503802 (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: 18503802 - Airframe hours: 6561 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Douglas Geeting Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Douglas Geeting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1998, 50 hours before - Departed: KAHILTNA GLAC'R, AK - Destination: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 6,975 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19980616013649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980616013649A), Jun 16, 1998: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. During landing heard bang. No damage found. On departure right ski seperataed. Swerved. Bothwer wings hit snow. (From .4) during takeoff from a glacier off… ## Other investigations on N185DG (1) 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 WPR22LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA091), Feb 1, 2022: Cessna A185F (N185DG), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll 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.