# NTSB CEN20CA382: Cessna A185, N185DK, Bellaire, MI, September 4, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2020, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Bellaire, MI
- Coordinates: 44.988609, -85.198333
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9886&lon=-85.1983&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA382
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101922/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101922
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA382

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll.

## 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 reported that he flew a normal approach to runway 20 and bounced on the main landing gear. During the landing roll, as he reduced power, the airplane yawed to the left and he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane slid, exited the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies or mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185DK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185DK-2021-12-17), registration cancelled 2021-12-17, S/N 18503808, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F)
- 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: 18503808
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 7220
- Engines: Continental IO-500-D 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2020, 19 hours before
- Departed: PRI, Curtice, OH
- Destination: ACB, Bellaire, MI
- Airport: ACB, Antrim County, runway 20, 5,003 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 3, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,535 total, 240 in this make and model, 2,481 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KACB

## 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 20200904009309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200904009309A), Sep 4, 2020: Cessna A185F, Bellaire, MI, Substantial damage. On September 4, 2020 at 18:56 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Cessna A185F aircraft, N185DK, registered to [privacy data omitted] and operated by a private…

## Other investigations on N185DK (2)

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.

- [NTSB GAA16CA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA438), Aug 21, 2016: Cessna A185 (N185DK), Fayetteville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.
- [NTSB GAA15CA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA213), Jul 11, 2015: Cessna A185F (N185DK), Dauphin Island, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll in gusty wind conditions which resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101922. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11533882&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo of damage to left wing (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11534812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Photo%20of%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing-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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