# NTSB ERA24LA312: Cessna A185F, N185GS, Rural Retreat, VA, July 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 21, 2024, 10:07 local (14:07 UTC) - Place: Rural Retreat, VA - Coordinates: 36.894849, -81.349946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8948&lon=-81.3499&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194731/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194731 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA312 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: 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-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) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that after completing a short cross-country flight, he entered the airport pattern for a full-stop landing. The pilot described that he configured the airplane up for a “full stall, 3-point landing” and upon touching down, the airplane “abruptly swerved to the right.” The pilot recounted that it felt “as if the right brake was applied” but reported that both of his feet were off the brakes. The pilot applied left brake, but it was ineffective because the left wheel was pulled off the runway by the abrupt swerve to the right. To compensate, the pilot increased throttle input, which inadvertently resulted in the airplane beginning a climb away from the runway before entering a descending left turn. Following the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane’s wheels, tires, and brakes, and found no evidence of any anomalies. A subsequent detailed inspection of the right brake by a mechanic revealed that the internal components of the brake had little wear and showed no evidence of damage or defects. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage during the accident sequence, therefore the integrity of the hydraulic system used to actuate the brake could not be evaluated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185GS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185GS), registered now, S/N 18503646, built 1978 (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: 18503646 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2200 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 550 D13B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Promotive, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2023, 10 hours before - Departed: VJI, Abingdon, VA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MKJ, Mountain Empire, runway 26, 5,252 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 556 total, 25 in this make and model, 471.1 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 41.3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: MKJ - METAR: KMKJ 211335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/19 A3020 RMK AO2 T01960185,M ## 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 20240721009199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240721009199A), Jul 21, 2024: Cessna A185F, Rural Retreat, VA, Substantial damage. On July 21, 2024, [privacy data omitted] attempted to land at mkj on runway 26 at 10:07AM local. The weather was reported with clear VFR conditions with no… ## Other investigations on N185GS (1) 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 CEN12CA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA190), Mar 17, 2012: Cessna A185F (N185GS), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194731. 12.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17485910&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scan%202024-7-24%2015.42.14_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17499733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%20Additional%20Info-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� mechanic's brake inspection (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17511433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Brake%20Inspection-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA examination of wreckage (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17514322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Crash%20Site%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17512041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Airport surveillance video (item 6, MOV, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17514658&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_1364-Rel.MOV 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.