# NTSB ANC23LA075: Cessna 185, N34VV, Healy, AK, September 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 12, 2023, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK · Remote airstrip - Coordinates: 64.16, -148.3 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.1600&lon=-148.3000&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193057/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193057 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing site, resulting in a nose over. ## 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 185, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 185, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing rollout at an overgrown remote airstrip, the main landing gear wheels “sunk into soft vegetation.” The airplane subsequently nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34VV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34VV), registered now, S/N 185-0036, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0036 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 3196.6 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fly Denali INC, doing business as Fly Denali - Registered owner: Wattum Investments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 5, 2023 - Departed: PAHV, Healy, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,869 total, 290 in this make and model, 1,720 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: PAIN, 30 nm away - METAR: PAIN 122256Z AUTO VRB06KT 10SM FEW047 OVC060 12/01 A2962 RMK AO2 SLP046 T01170011 ## 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 20230912011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230912011259A), Sep 12, 2023: Cessna 185, Healy, AK, Substantial damage. After landing on a Remote Strip, the pilot taxied the aircraft off the strip into some tall grass. The area of tall grass also had several inches of standing… ## 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=193057. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16240083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA075%206120%20print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16240336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA075%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.