Accident Overview
On August 16, at approximately 0930 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, registration N8209U, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing about 15 miles northeast of McCarthy, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by Wrangell Mountain Air of Glennallen, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight had departed McCarthy around 0900.
Pilot Statement
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 18, the pilot reported that during the landing, the right main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane. He stated that when the right gear leg dug into the ground, the airplane spun to the right, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. The pilot indicated there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
Landing Gear Failure
The pilot noted that the landing gear leg fractured at the top axle bolt holes. He stated that the landing gear leg had been inspected during the last 100-hour inspection.