# NTSB WPR20CA204: Cessna A185, N3086W, San Diego, CA, July 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2020, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.815834, -117.139442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8158&lon=-117.1394&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: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 101530 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101530/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101530 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA204 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a crosswind and excessive braking action, which resulted in the airplane 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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072818), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing with a left crosswind. As the airplane was slowing, the left wing dropped and the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct the movement with full right aileron control, but the airplane continued to the left. The pilot reported that he then applied the brakes too hard, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3086W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3086W), registered now, S/N 18502042, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502042 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 7200 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2020, 35 hours before - Departed: F70, Murrieta/Temecula, CA - Destination: MYF, San Diego, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MYF, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive, runway 28L, 3,401 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,400 total, 65 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KMYF ## 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 20200702008529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200702008529A), Jul 2, 2020: Cessna A185E, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. On July 2, 2020 at approximately 13:40 PST, N3086W Cessna 185, s/n 18502042 while on landing rollout at kmyf airport lost directional control and flipped the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101530. 851 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.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.