# NTSB ANC22LA037: Cessna A185E, N1694M, Willow, AK, May 27, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 27, 2022, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Willow, AK
- Coordinates: 61.615, -150.532
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6150&lon=-150.5320&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105156
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105156/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105156
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA037

## Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing rollout on a remote sandbar, the airplane’s main tires encountered an area of soft sand and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident may have been prevented if he had applied less brakes and been more prepared for the soft and uneven landing surface.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1694M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1694M), registered now, S/N 18501879 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18501879
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 9271
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wraith Lane T
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 821 total, 84 in this make and model, 755 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: PABV, 34 nm away
- METAR: PABV 271756Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP123 T01390039 10139 20083 53001

## Other investigations on N1694M (3)

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 ANC15LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA033), Jun 1, 2015: Cessna 185 (N1694M), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The other pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the other pilot’s failure to follow Federal Aviation…
- [NTSB ANC13CA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA005), Oct 22, 2012: Cessna A185E (N1694M), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
- [NTSB ANC76AA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA127), Aug 28, 1976: Cessna 185E (N1694M), Wainwright, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105156. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14056634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14057238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-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.

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