Cessna 185 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, August 16, 2009
On August 16, 2009 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N8209U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mccarthy, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the right main landing gear wheel from the airplane during landing for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inability to control the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2009 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N8209U · registry record · serial 185-0213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 135, passenger flight when the accident occurred. The pilot said the right main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane during landing, and the airplane spun to the right striking the left wing on the ground. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the landing gear leg failed at the top axle bolt holes, and that the gear had been inspected during the last 100 hour inspection.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,241 hours in all; 3,700 in this make and model; 290 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 10,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,731 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wrangell Mountain Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: AK0 Mccarthy AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: Mccarthy AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.