Cessna 185 accident near Bulchitna Lake, Alaska, May 29, 1993
On May 29, 1993 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 185, registered N80124, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bulchitna Lake, Alaska (Sigley'S Pvt Airstrip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR LEG DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE CAUSED BY CORROSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1993 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Bulchitna Lake, Alaska · Sigley'S Pvt Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N80124 · registry record · serial 18503094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE EXPERIENCED A MODERATELY HARD LANDING AND THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR AT THE UPPER BOLT HOLES WHICH NORMALLY SECURE THE AXLE TO THE LANDING GEAR LEG. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE GEAR LEG SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE STEMMED FROM AREA OF FATIGUE CRACKING THAT INITIATED FROM CROSSION PITTING IN THE BOLT HOLES AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE GEAR LEG.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,761 hours in all; 3,100 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 3,637 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 1993; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,100 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N80124 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.