# NTSB ANC20CA091: Cessna A185, N107L, Lime Village, AK, August 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 30, 2020, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Lime Village, AK - Coordinates: 61.563888, -156.22778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5639&lon=-156.2278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 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): 101938 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101938/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101938 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA091 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during the landing flare, which resulted in an impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 reported that during the landing flare, with a left quartering crosswind, the airplane drifted to the left. He attempted to correct the drift, however, the left wing impacted trees located parallel to the runway. Subsequently, the airplane spun to the left and came to rest nosed down in the trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he was landing on a heading of about 270° and that the wind was from 240° at about 20 MPH. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N107L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N107L), registered now, S/N 18503535, built 1978 (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: 18503535 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2440.1 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D11B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2020 - Departed: SRV, Stoney River, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,464 total, 1,838 in this make and model, 17,464 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 111 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.14 inHg - Observed at: PASL, 32 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 20200830016129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200830016129A), Aug 30, 2020: Cessna A185F, Stoney River, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land to the west at an unimporoved airstrip near Stoney River (srv) in gusty wind conditions. During the flare the pilot lost control… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101938. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12676906&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pointone091-Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 607 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11434583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.