Probable cause
The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing surface.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the wheel-equipped tricycle gear airplane reported that, he was landing on a hard packed snow-covered airstrip. After touchdown and during the landing rollout the right main tire and nose wheel broke through the hard crusted snow. The nose gear assembly collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the operator stated that the accident may have been prevented if the mission parameters had been clearly stated to the pilot, and that hard packed snow will no longer be considered a suitable landing area for wheel-equipped airplanes.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC21LA019 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 1, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Tatitna (8KA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna U206G
- N-number
- N1748R
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
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.