# NTSB ANC20CA071: Cessna A185, N360DC, Palmer, AK, July 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2020, 18:15 local (Jul 14, 2020, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.300277, -148.5 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3003&lon=-148.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101633/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101633 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop and left main landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [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) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after touchdown on an unimproved airstrip with a "fairly strong" crosswind, the airplane veered left. He attempted to correct the veer and applied right rudder and brake; however, the airplane exited the site, and the left main tire encountered a hole. Subsequently, the airplane "yawed to the right", ground looped, and came to rest upright. During the ground loop the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N360DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N360DC), registered now, S/N 185-02173 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - 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: 185-02173 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2658 - Engines: Continental IO-520D24B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2020 - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Palmer, AK - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review March 22, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 22,145 total, 120 in this make and model, 8,050 as pilot in command, 287 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 25 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 20200713010679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200713010679A), Jul 13, 2020: Cessna A185F, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that while landing with a 90 degree cross wind @ 10KTS, gusting to 15KTS, he landed and started drifting left. He seen a hole on the left side of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101633. 591 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9999531&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident picture (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9998228&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Rel.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.