# NTSB WPR20CA220: Cessna A185, N185KL, Port Townsend, WA, July 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2020, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Port Townsend, WA - Coordinates: 48.05389, -122.810554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0539&lon=-122.8106&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101590 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101590/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101590 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## 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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [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: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a crosswind, he utilized full right aileron input to maintain directional control. The airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right that lifted the right wing, and the left wing dropped and impacted the runway surface. The airplane then began to veer to the right. While the pilot was attempting to correct, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, right lift strut, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll with a crosswind, he utilized full right aileron input to maintain directional control. The airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right that lifted the right wing, and the left wing dropped and impacted the runway surface. The airplane then began to veer to the right. While the pilot was attempting to correct, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, right lift strut, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N185KL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502798 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 5460 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D-20B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2019 - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: 0S9, Port Townsend, WA - Airport: 0S9, Jefferson County Intl, runway 27, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 1,207 total, 345 in this make and model, 1,134 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: K0S9, 19 nm away ## 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 20200713009439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200713009439A), Jul 13, 2020: Cessna A185F, Port Townsend, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway 27 with winds reported variable to 320 degrees and varying from 4 to 8 knots. During the landing rollout, right wing lifted due to a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101590. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 690 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9968139&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA220%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10012297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%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.