# NTSB CHI95LA105: Cessna 185, N714MX, Baudette, MN, March 17, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 1995, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Baudette, MN - Coordinates: 48.710575, -94.57933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7106&lon=-94.5793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9854/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA105 ## Probable cause an encountered with a hidden obstruction during taxi. A factor was the ski assembly not having been installed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (cause) - terrain condition - water,frozen - landing gear,ski assembly - not installed (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,main gear - overload ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N714MX), registered now, S/N 18504404, built 1983 (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: 18504404 - Airframe hours: 5501 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950317010019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950317010019A), Mar 17, 1995: Cessna A185F, Baudette, MN, Substantial damage. Narrative: during taxi for takeoff, FAR135, revenue flight -3 pax -aircraft wheel dropped into expansion crack on lake-of-the-woods. Main gear, l wing, prop &… ## Other investigations on N714MX (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 DEN05CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA001), Oct 1, 2004: Cessna 185F (N714MX), Santa Fe, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll resulting in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind. 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.