# NTSB CEN25LA260: Cessna A185F, N888DK, Lansing, MI, July 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 19, 2025, 10:53 local (14:53 UTC) - Place: Lansing, MI - Coordinates: 42.778647, -84.586206 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7786&lon=-84.5862&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200576/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200576 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA260 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing in a crosswind condition. ## 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: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he flared too high during the landing, possibly due to a runway width illusion. The airplane bounced on contact with the runway and then began to weathervane into the crosswind. The pilot stated he performed control inputs to minimize the ground loop but was unsuccessful and the right wing scraped the runway. Contact with the runway resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 28L with wind from 200° at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N888DK), registered now, S/N 18504385, built 1982 (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: 18504385 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 1652.4 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D027B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 2025 - Departed: KOEB, Coldwater, MI - Destination: KLAN, Lansing, MI - Airport: LAN, Capital Region International Airport, runway 28L, 8,506 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 295 total, 100 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KLAN - METAR: KLAN 191453Z 20008KT 10SM FEW030 SCT037 OVC044 24/19 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02390194 58007 ## 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 20250719009209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250719009209A), Jul 19, 2025: Cessna A185F, Lansing, MI, Minor damage. On July 19th, 2025, at approximately 1045 EDT, a Cessna C185 skywagon aircraft, registered as [privacy data omitted], sustained minor damage during a flight in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200576. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19149412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA260%20-%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19151762&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA260%20-%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.