# NTSB ANC13CA064: Cessna A185F, N93957, Kenai, AK, July 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2013, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.283054, -152.455001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2831&lon=-152.4550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FAA FSDO Inspector- Operations - NTSB case key (mKey): 87482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control of the airplane while landing in variable wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport beach landing site. The pilot said that, before landing, he checked the wind conditions with pilots on the ground at the remote beach site, where he had landed many times before. He said that, after the airplane touched down, he encountered windshear in which the wind direction changed to a tailwind that got up under the airplane's tail. The pilot said that the airplane suddenly veered left, did not respond to his control inputs, and was not in a position that would enable a go-around attempt. He said that the airplane flipped over, sustaining damage to the landing gear, wing, vertical stabilizer, fuselage, and propeller. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport beach landing site. The pilot said that, before landing, he checked the wind conditions with pilots on the ground at the remote beach site, where he had landed many times before. He said that, after the airplane touched down, he encountered windshear in which the wind direction changed to a tailwind that got up under the airplane's tail. The pilot said that the airplane suddenly veered left, did not respond to his control inputs, and was not in a position that would enable a go-around attempt. He said that the airplane flipped over, sustaining damage to the landing gear, wing, vertical stabilizer, fuselage, and propeller. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93957](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93957-2014-09-22), registration cancelled 2014-09-22, S/N 18503270, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503270 - Airframe hours: 2328 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2013 - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Destination: PAEN, Kenai, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: none ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 2,299 total, 97 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: PAEN, 39 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130713015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130713015379A), Jul 13, 2013: Cessna A185F, Pollycreek, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land his CE-185 on the beach at Pollycreek. After a/c touched down the wind shifted 180 degrees, a/c skidded sideways , the tail came up and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87482. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.