What happened
A private pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot landed the Cessna 185 in a snow-covered meadow. The pilot reported that the snow conditions were more severe than anticipated. Before attempting takeoff, the pilot had to dig the ski-equipped aircraft out of the snow and used snowshoes to manually pack down a takeoff area around the plane. In an effort to reduce the takeoff weight, the pilot also removed as much gear from the aircraft as possible.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered off the prepared, packed area. This caused the right ski and the right wing to become buried in the snow.
The investigation
A mechanic examined the aircraft following the incident. The inspection revealed significant structural damage, noting that both the fore and aft main spars in the right wing required replacement. The NTSB did not examine the aircraft.