# NTSB ANC25LA003: Cessna A185F, N61795, Wasilla, AK, October 20, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 19, 2024, 17:20 local (Oct 20, 2024, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Coordinates: 61.394637, -149.8423
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3946&lon=-149.8423&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195367/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195367
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA003

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground loop.

## 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 A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [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 A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); 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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that after landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel runway, she reduced power and retracted the flaps. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and the pilot applied right rudder to correct the veer. The airplane then veered right, ground looped, and exited the side of the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61795](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61795-2026-03-16), registration cancelled 2026-03-16, S/N 18504256, built 1981 (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: 18504256
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 3895
- Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2023
- Departed: 07AN, Talkeenta, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 08/26, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 492 total, 20 in this make and model, 387 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 12, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,052 total, 128 in this make and model, 1,929 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: ABV, 10 nm away
- METAR: PABV 200056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 01/M13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T00061133 FZRANO

## 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 20241019016199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241019016199A), Oct 19, 2024: Cessna A185F, Point Mackenzie, AK, Substantial damage. Airman was doing a currency flight because they had not flown the CE-185 tailwheel in the past six months. The airman has only 19.5 hours in this aircraft and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195367. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18037384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 460 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18037216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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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