- Date
- March 17, 1995, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Baudette, MN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N714MXCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950317010019A
- Case key
- 9854
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
an encountered with a hidden obstruction during taxi. A factor was the ski assembly not having been installed.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had overflown the frozen lake to determine the condition of the ice and to look for any cracks in the ice prior to landing. No cracks were seen and the airplane landed without incident. While taxiing for takeoff, the airplane's left main landing gear dropped into a crack on the ice and the landing gear separated. The airplane's skis were not installed.
Factual narrative
On March 17, 1995, at 0845 central standard time, a Cessna 185, N714MX, operated by Baudette Flying Service, Inc., of Baudette, Minnesota, was substantially damaged while taxiing for takeoff on a frozen lake in Baudette, Minnesota. The commercial pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi fishing flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
The pilot reported that he had overflown the lake to scan the frozen surface to determine the condition of the ice and to look for any cracks in the ice prior to landing. Since none were observed, the pilot stated he landed the airplane on the lake without incident. While taxiing the airplane in preparation for takeoff, the airplane's left main landing gear dropped into a crack in the ice. The landing gear separated from the airplane and the airplane sustained substantial damage.
N714MX is equipped with wheel skis. The skis were removed shortly before the time of the accident in order to replace the tires on the airplane's landing gear. After the tires were replaced, the skis were not reinstalled on the airplane and were not on the landing gear at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N714MX
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18504404
- Airframe hours
- 5,501
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Baudette Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1994 · 60 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,175 total · 350 in this make and model · 2,065 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N714MX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.