Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was landing a wheel/ski equipped airplane on a frozen, wind-blown, ice and snow-covered lake. He had established a landing area earlier in the day, by laying down ski tracks with a friends ski equipped airplane. Upon touchdown, the airplane did not slow as expected, and it began to veer off the proposed landing area. While attempting to correct for the veer, the right ski struck a hole hidden underneath the snow and ice, and the right main landing gear leg separated from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC14CA009 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 23, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Nenana, Alaska
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna A185F
- N-number
- N8310Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1978
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.