Accident Cessna 305A N6897, Saturday 25 December 2010

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Date:	Saturday 25 December 2010
Time:	14:00 LT
Type:	Cessna 305A
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N6897
MSN:	22728
Year of manufacture:	1955
Total airframe hrs:	6587 hours
Engine model:	Continental O-470-11
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Spooner, Wisconsin - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Spooner, WI (KPVT)
Destination airport:	Spooner, WI
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported that prior to landing, he performed two low level passes to determine a safe landing area on the frozen lake. He said that during the landing, the left landing gear ski touched down and he heard a bang as the left ski impacted a snow-covered raised ice ridge. He slowed the airplane for the landing rollout and the airplane came to rest upright. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear box structure was bent and the bulkheads were damaged. The examination did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that he should have landed the airplane in the middle of lake which likely would have had less slush and rough ice.

Probable Cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing on a snow-covered lake.

Accident investigation: