CESSNA U206G near McGrath, AK — 2021-03-01

Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing surface.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the wheel-equipped tricycle gear airplane reported that, he was landing on a hard packed snow-covered airstrip. After touchdown and during the landing rollout the right main tire and nose wheel broke through the hard crusted snow. The nose gear assembly collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the operator stated that the accident may have been prevented if the mission parameters had been clearly stated to the pilot, and that hard packed snow will no longer be considered a suitable landing area for wheel-equipped airplanes.

NTSB coding

• Landing gear collapse · Landing-landing roll
• Decision Making / Judgment

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