# NTSB SEA05LA081: Cessna 185F, N4948Q, Medford, OR, April 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 2005, 16:44 local (23:44 UTC) - Place: Medford, OR - Coordinates: 42.374168, -122.873611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3742&lon=-122.8736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61300/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include variable winds that at times were crosswinds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who was landing in a variable wind, made a touchdown and initial landing roll that were uneventful, but as the aircraft slowed, it encountered a crosswind that he was unable to adequately compensate for. Almost immediately after encountering the crosswind, the aircraft veered sharply toward the side of the runway, and one of the wings made contact with the ground. It was later determined that the wing structure had sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the flight control or rudder system. In a post-accident interview with the Investigator-In-charge, the pilot stated that the aircraft just got away from him. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2005, at 1644 Pacific daylight time, the wing of a Cessna 185F, N4948Q, impacted the runway during the landing roll at Rogue Valley International Airport, Medford, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Anacortes, Washington, about two and one-half hours prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was landing in a variable wind, his touchdown and initial landing roll were uneventful, but as the aircraft slowed, it encountered a crosswind that he was unable to adequately compensate for. Almost immediately after encountering the crosswind, the aircraft veered sharply toward the side of the runway, and one of the wings made contact with the ground. It was later determined that the wing structure had sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the flight control or rudder system. In a post-accident interview with the Investigator-In-charge, the pilot stated that the aircraft just got away from him. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4948Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4948Q), registered now, S/N 18503583, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - 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: 03583 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William C Salt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 74S, Anacortes, WA - Destination: KMFR, Medford, OR - Airport: KMFR, Rogue Valley, runway 32, 8,800 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 285 total, 225 in this make and model, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: KMFR, 1 nm away ## Other investigations on N4948Q (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 ANC92LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA039), Feb 19, 1992: Cessna 185F (N4948Q), Pelican, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GLARE FROM THE SUN. 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.