# NTSB WPR14CA073: Cessna A185F, N185CY, Carson City, NV, December 22, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 22, 2013, 11:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Carson City, NV
- Coordinates: 39.192222, -119.732498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1922&lon=-119.7325&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 May 21, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88580/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88580
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA073

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over.

## 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after an approximate one-hour flight, he returned back to the departure airport, which is where the airplane was based. He configured the airplane for a three-point landing and touched down about 300 feet after the runway threshold. Upon touchdown, the airplane immediately began to veer to the right. The airplane continued off the runway surface and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after an approximate one-hour flight, he returned back to the departure airport, which is where the airplane was based. He configured the airplane for a three-point landing and touched down about 300 feet after the runway threshold. Upon touchdown, the airplane immediately began to veer to the right. The airplane continued off the runway surface and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185CY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185CY), registered now, S/N 18502839, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F (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: 18502839
- Year built: 1975
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nye William J
- Registered owner: Nye William J
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: CXP, Carson City, NV
- Destination: CXP, Carson City, NV
- Airport: CXP, Carson Airport, runway 27, 6,101 × 75 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg

## 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 20131222025099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131222025099A), Dec 22, 2013: Cessna A185F, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. After touching down on runway 27 the aircraft veered to the right, running off the right side of the runway into the dirt and snow, subsequently flipped upside…

## Other investigations on N185CY (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 LAX01LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA034), Nov 5, 2000: Cessna 185F (N185CY), Carson City, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation precipitated by the pilot's continued use of the fuel selector valve that was not seating in the detents properly.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88580. 107 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation – Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot-Redacted.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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