# Accident 20230727020939A: Cessna A185F, Friday Harbor, WA, July 27, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2023, 16:30 local time
- Place: Friday Harbor, WA
- Airport: Friday Harbor Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5220° N, 123.0244° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5220&lon=-123.0244&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185GG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185GG) (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
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA291) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230727020939A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS APPROACHING FRIDAY HARBOR AIRPORT, ON SAN JUAN ISLAND, WA (KFHR) FROM THE SOUTH. UPON ATTEMPTED DOWNWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 16, PILOT CROSSED THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR, AND STARTED A FLARE FOR A 3 POINT LANDING WITH THE STALL WARNING HORN. THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN RESULTED IN A SLIGHT BOUNCE, AND PILOT ELECTED NOT TO CORRECT THE BOUNCE WITH POWER OR PERFORM A GO-AROUND. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TOUCHDOWN, PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE RIGHT SWERVE WHICH ENSUED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AROUND INTO A RIGHT GROUNDLOOP, AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY PAVEMENT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE PROPELLER SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK THE GROUND RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STOPPAGE. THE AIRCRAFT ULTIMATELY CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS BAY WEST OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WINGTIP, THE PROPELLER, AND THE LANDING GEAR BOX.

## 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 WPR23LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA291), Jul 28, 2023: Cessna A185F (N185GG), Friday Habor, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Other reports on N185GG (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250823016419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250823016419A), Aug 23, 2025: Cessna A185F (N185GG), Lakeview, OR, Substantial damage. During the landing roll out, pilot reported he encountered a strong gust of wind that caused the airplane to make a sudden turn. Despite control inputs, the…

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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