# Accident 20260926013139A: Cessna A185F, Bozeman, MT, September 26, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2026, 10:48 local time
- Place: Bozeman, MT
- Airport: Bozeman Yellowstone International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7051° N, 110.3338° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7051&lon=-110.3338&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185BZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185BZ) (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: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,983 total, 98 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA360) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260926013139A

## Narrative

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

THE PIC DEPARTED BOZEMAN BETWEEN 0830 AND 0900 LOCAL TIME TO PERFORM TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT A GRASS LANDING STRIP PRIOR TO ANTICIPATED AFTERNOON WINDS. AFTER COMPLETING FOUR TOUCH-AND-GOES AT LVM WITH REPORTED WINDS OF 10–12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS, AND WITH INCREASED TRAFFIC, THE PIC MANEUVERED WEST ALONG THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER TO LAND AT A FAMILIAR OFF-AIRPORT PASTURE WHERE THE PIC HAD MADE SEVERAL LANDINGS. PRIOR TO ENTERING THE APPROACH, THE PIC EVALUATED LOCAL SURFACE WIND INDICATORS AND OBSERVED THE DIRECTION OF THE BLOWING GRASS AND NO LEAVES BLOWING FROM THE TREES. WHILE MAKING A LEFT BASE TURN AROUND 300 FEET AGL, THE PIC CONFIGURED FLAPS AT 80 KTS APPROACH SPEED, AND A WIND GUST LIFTED THE RIGHT WING. DUE TO THE 300 FT AGL ALTITUDE AND 80 KTS AIRSPEED, THE PIC WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE LEFT GEAR FROM CONTACTING TERRAIN. COCKPIT WORKLOAD WAS MINIMAL AND ROUTINE, WITH NO OPERATIONAL PRESSURE, RUSHING, OR DISTRACTIONS; HOWEVER, THE PIC’S SELECTED APPROACH SPEED DID NOT PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT SAFETY BUFFER FOR LOCALIZED, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

## 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 WPR26LA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA360), Sep 26, 2026: Cessna A185F (N185BZ), Livingston, MT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.