Cessna A185E N4538F

Summary

On 5 January 2013 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna A185E registered N4538F, operated by William A Barnes, was involved in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 January 2013 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Skwentna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.5167, -151.4833

Aircraft

Cessna A185E

Registration

N4538F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

William A Barnes

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Skwentna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13CA020

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a main landing gear collapse.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the wheel/ski-equipped airplane landed on a remote, frozen, snow-covered lake. While taxiing to park, the right wheel/ski struck an area of ice overflow that was covered by snow. During the collision, the axle bolts on the right wheel/ski broke, which pivoted the airplane to the right, and the right wing struck the snow-covered ice. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In a written statement, the pilot reported that flat light conditions on the snow-covered lake contributed to his inability to see the ice overflow.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.