# NTSB WPR22LA091: Cessna A185F, N185DG, Gila Bend, AZ, February 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 1, 2022, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Gila Bend, AZ · N32°57.61' / W112°40.42' - Coordinates: 32.576, -112.404 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5760&lon=-112.4040&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: 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): 104591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104591/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104591 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll ## 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; 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: 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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/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 passenger in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while the pilot was practicing a touch-and-go landing, the airplane touched down, and immediately veered right. The passenger believed that the pilot “froze” on the controls, so the passenger attempted to “intervene,” but the airplane continued to veer right. The airplane exited the runway and collided with terrain. The lower fuselage was substantially damaged. The director of maintenance reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185DG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185DG), registered now, S/N 18503802 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F (NO SERIES) - 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: 18503802 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7153 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Western Pilot Service Inc - Registered owner: Western Pilot Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2021, 88 hours before - Departed: KAVQ, Marana, AZ - Destination: E63, Gila Bend, AZ - Airport: E63, Gila Bend Municipal Airport, runway 22, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 22, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,383 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,593 as pilot in command, 52.1 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,534 total, 80 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 65 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 2976.00 inHg - Observed at: KGYR, 32 nm away - METAR: SA 01/02/2022 22:47-> METAR KGYR 012247Z VRB03KT 10SM BKN160 BKN200 19/M06 A2975= SA 01/02/2022 21:47-> METAR KGYR 012147Z VRB04KT 10SM BKN160 BKN200 20/M06 A2976= ## 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 20220201001369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220201001369A), Feb 1, 2022: Cessna A185F, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Paraphrased from pilot's comments letter. I was learning to fly a C-185PRIMARILY to become proficient in landing tail wheel aircraft. I had been undergoing… ## Other investigations on N185DG (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 ANC98LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA074), Jun 16, 1998: Cessna A185F (N185DG), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracking. A factor associated with this accident is the inadequate inspection procedure specified by the manufacturer. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104591. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13648361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=C185%20NTSB%20report%20Finished_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13648692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%2011-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.