# Accident 20170218002919A: Cessna A185F, Fairbanks, AK, February 18, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 2017, 17:10 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: Fairbanks International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.8150° N, 147.8564° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8150&lon=-147.8564&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,952 total, 45 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170218002919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE ACCIDENT PILOT TOOK OFF WITHOUT PROBLEMS AND FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES.  HE LINED UP WITH RUNWAY 20L TO LAND.  RUNWAY 20L IS PAVED AND WAS CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE.  HE SAID THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR AND VISIBLE DURING HIS APPROACH BUT THERE WAS "FLAT LIGHT" DUE TO THE SNOW COVERED GROUND AND THE SETTING SUN WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM.  HE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO LANDING ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR IMPACTED THE SNOW 705 FEET BEFORE THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER AND REMAIN UPSIDE DOWN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA17CA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA147), Feb 19, 2017: Cessna A185 (N185AE), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate glidepath to the runway and to use the vertical guidance system.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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