# NTSB CEN09CA081: Cessna A185F, N185KS, Alton, IL, December 5, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 5, 2008, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Alton, IL
- Coordinates: 38.890277, -90.046112
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8903&lon=-90.0461&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 25, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-St. Louis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69532/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA081

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to compensate for the crosswind during landing, resulting in loss of control of the aircraft and the subsequent nose-over of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072821), [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-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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing with a left crosswind. While rolling out, the airplane veered to the right and the pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and then brake. The pilot stated that when left braking was applied, the airplane nosed forward and the left wingtip and propeller contacted the ground. He stated that the airplane then nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing with a left crosswind. While rolling out, the airplane veered to the right and the pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and then brake. The pilot stated that when left braking was applied, the airplane nosed forward and the left wingtip and propeller contacted the ground. He stated that the airplane then nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185KS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185KS), registered now, S/N 18502366, built 1974 (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: 18502366
- Airframe hours: 3279
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2008
- Departed: SPI, Springfield, IL
- Destination: ALN, Alton, IL
- Airport: ALN, St Louis Regional Airport, runway 29, 8,101 ×  ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 9,700 total, 182 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.52 inHg
- Observed at: ALN

## 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 20081205853109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081205853109A), Dec 5, 2008: Cessna A185F, Alton/St Louis, IL, Substantial damage. On December 5, 2008, N185KS was inbound for landing at st. Louis regional airport (kaln) with one occupant onboard. The pilot, [privacy data omitted] was in…

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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