# Accident 20241123017989A: Cessna A185F, Lewistown, MT, November 23, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2024, 15:00 local time
- Place: Lewistown, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.7501° N, 108.8800° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7501&lon=-108.8800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9533H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9533H) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,725 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA047) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241123017989A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT:

ON NOVEMBER 25, 2024, A PRIVATELY OPERATED CESSNA A185F AIRCRAFT, WITH ONE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD, LANDED ON A PRIVATE GRASS/GRAVEL STRIP 30 MILES SOUTH OF KLWT (LEWISTOWN, MONTANA). UPON LANDING THE PILOT STATED THAT THE MAIN GEAR ROLLED OVER A LARGE ROCK HALF BURIED IN THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ROCK WAS DISLODGED FROM THE GROUND AND THROWN INTO RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. BASED UPON PICTURES PROVIDED BY THE PILOT THE ROCK APPEARED TO BE ROUGHLY 10-12 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE TIP (APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES) OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONAL STABILIZER WAS COMPRESSED VERTICALLY AND INWARD TOWARD THE VERTICAL STABLIZER. THE ELEVATOR WAS PARTIALLY DETATCHED FROM THE HORIZONTAL STABLIZER AT THE SAME OUTBOARD LEADING EDGE AREA.

PILOT REPORTED NO OTHER ISSUES UPON LANDING. INVESTIGATION WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER REASONABLE CAUSES THAT COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT.

CAUSAUL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

THE UNIMPROVED SURFACE HAD SCATTERED MEDIUM TO LARGE ROCKS THAT WERE OBSCURED BY TALL GRASS. WHICH IMPEADED THE PILOTS ABILITY TO VISUALLY IDENTIFY LANDING HAZARDS.

NO ATC ACTIONS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EVENT.

NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION.

ACTION TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND PREVENT REOCCURANCE:

NO ACTION TAKEN

SAS ID: NM05202500640

## 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 WPR25LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA047), Nov 23, 2024: Cessna A185F (N9533H), Lewistown, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent impact with a rock during a landing on a grass strip.

## Other reports on N9533H (1)

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

- [Accident 19790828023889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790828023889A), Aug 28, 1979: Cessna A185F (N9533H), Renton, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported engine failed in pattern for water landing. Hit trees. No engine defects. Pilot not seaplane rated.

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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