# NTSB ANC23LA073: Cessna A185F, N124UA, Beluga, AK, September 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 10, 2023, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Beluga, AK - Coordinates: 61.276111, -151.78305 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2761&lon=-151.7831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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 (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 193051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delayed go-around decision with insufficient runway remaining. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a landing attempt on a 975 ft long remote airstrip, he realized that the airplane was going too fast, so he decided to perform a go-around. During the go around attempt, there was not sufficient runway remaining and the airplane went over the end of a cliff, impacting terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N124UA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124UA), registered now, S/N 18503022, built 1976 (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: 18503022 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5823.1 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: AK12, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A, Capps Creek ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 2,730.8 total, 673.2 in this make and model, 2,730.8 as pilot in command, 20.3 in the last 90 days, 4.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 16,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: PANC, 51 nm away - METAR: PANC 102053Z 34005KT 10SM FEW020 BKN160 11/07 A2962 RMK AO2 SLP032 T01060067 57016 ## 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 20230910018119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230910018119A), Sep 10, 2023: Cessna A185F, Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed anchorage with no issues and flew 65 miles west to capps creek, on touchdown a capps creek the landing touchdown was long and then hit a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193051. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16313435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16319867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA073%20Photos-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.