# NTSB WPR20CA250: Cessna A185, N185GK, Kalispell, MT, August 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 3, 2020, 08:37 local (14:37 UTC) - Place: Kalispell, MT - Coordinates: 48.167221, -114.214996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1672&lon=-114.2150&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 101728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101728/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101728 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA250 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive speed while landing on a wet grass runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while on finial approach to land, the approach speed was too fast. During the landing roll on a wet 1,500 ft long grass runway, braking action was poor, and the pilot was unable to stop the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. 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, while on finial approach to land, the approach speed was too fast. During the landing roll on a wet 1,500 ft long grass runway, braking action was poor, and the pilot was unable to stop the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185GK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185GK-2023-02-11), registration cancelled 2023-02-11, S/N 18503687, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (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: 18503687 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2580 - Engines: Continental IO-520-FCD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2019 - Departed: 32S, Stevensville, MT - Destination: PVT, Kalispell, MT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 12, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 24,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KGPI, 8 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 20200803013369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200803013369A), Aug 3, 2020: Cessna A185F, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot landed at private airstrip she was unfamiliar with. Upon landing the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in time and the aircraft rolled into a fence… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101728. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 863 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Photo-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.