Accident Overview
On October 8, 2008, at approximately 1645 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 airplane, registration N9380N, sustained substantial damage during taxi after landing at a remote airstrip about 32 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The aircraft was equipped with tundra tires.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area public use operation under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The airplane was operated by the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety, Division of Wildlife Troopers, based in Soldotna, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.
Accident Sequence
According to the pilot's report to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on October 10, the flight was a wildlife enforcement mission. After landing on a remote airstrip approximately 2,000 feet long, the pilot turned the airplane around at the end of the airstrip. During this maneuver, the elevator struck an area of low brush along the edge of the airstrip, resulting in structural damage to the elevator that required replacement.
Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically the elevator, which needed replacement due to the structural damage sustained from the brush strike.