# NTSB ANC24LA059: Cessna 185, N748WP, Anchorage, AK, June 24, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2024, 18:30 local (Jun 24, 2024, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK · PABV Airport - Coordinates: 61.41502, -149.50967 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4150&lon=-149.5097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194606/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194606 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072818), [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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing touch-and-go landings, and he reported that the wind at the time was relatively calm. While on downwind on his fourth touch-and-go, the pilot felt turbulence and decided this would be his last landing. The landing was normal, the touchdown was smooth, the throttle was closed, and the airplane was decelerating through 40-45 mph when a gust of wind from the left caused the right wing to lift and the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite aileron and rudder; however, the airplane departed the runway into the grass which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N748WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N748WP), registered now, S/N 185-1207, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - 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: 185-1207 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 3572 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2024, 7.2 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PABV, Birchwood, runway 20R, 4,012 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; military, commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14,727 total, 61 in this make and model, 6,300 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 35.8 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: PABV - METAR: PABV 240156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/11 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP072 T02440106 ## 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 20240623020319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240623020319A), Jun 23, 2024: Cessna A185E, Chugiak, AK, Substantial damage. According to pilot, after MLG touchdown and decelerating, strong gust from the left, nose tracked to the left and right wing went upward, could not compensate.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194606. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17333780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA059%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18519501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20ANC24LA059-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.