Accident Details
On November 29, 2024, at 1305 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 180 airplane, registration N9140R, sustained substantial damage during a landing accident near Egegik, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Landing and Gear Failure
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on a remote, gravel-covered beach, the right main landing gear leg broke just above the wheel axle. The remaining portion of the gear leg then dug into the frozen gravel and folded under the fuselage. The airplane veered to the right, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed that the right main landing gear leg had fractured a few inches above the axle. The fractured surface was obliterated as the gear leg was ground into the gravel before folding aft. The separated right wheel assembly traveled into a nearby lake and was not recovered. The pilot noted that the main landing gear legs were last inspected for cracks about 15 years before the accident.