# NTSB WPR25LA014: Cessna A185E, N185WK, Seattle, WA, October 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 12, 2024, 15:18 local (22:18 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.529972, -122.30194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5300&lon=-122.3019&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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195317 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195317/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195317 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll with a crosswind. ## 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: [Cessna A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072818), [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: [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) ## 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) ## Analysis According to the pilots of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot/owner offered to let the second pilot land the airplane. During the landing, the airplane landed hard, bounced, and began to yaw to the right. Both pilots then applied control inputs to regain control of the airplane, however the airplane ground looped to the right. Subsequently, the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. At the time of the accident, the pilots were landing on runway 14L with wind from 240° at 5 knots. The pilots reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185WK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185WK), registered now, S/N 185-01832, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-01832 - Year built: 1970 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Intrepid Air LLC - Registered owner: Intrepid Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CYXX, Abbotsford, OF - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field/King County International Airport, runway 14L, 3,709 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 842 total, 0 in this make and model, 752 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 677.8 total, 595.5 as pilot in command, 82.3 in the last 90 days, 35.9 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KBFI - METAR: KBFI 122153Z 24005KT 10SM CLR 19/08 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP184 T01890083 ## 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 20241012018899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241012018899A), Oct 12, 2024: Cessna A185E, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. N185WK was on approach rwy 14L. On touchdown, the aircraft bounced.PIC was allowing the passenger to land and passenger says just as he was going to attempt to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195317. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot/owner) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18247450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened%20KD_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (second pilot) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18247396&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20CC%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18248245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.