ANC03LA052

Factual narrative

On May 28, 2003, about 1845 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N70162, sustained substantial damage when the left wing struck the runway surface during an aborted landing at the Fort Wainwright Army Airfield, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area orientation flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Aviation Services. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Fort Wainwright Airfield about 1750. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), was notified of the accident on May 29, by an air safety investigator with the Office of Aviation Services. He reported that the pilot was conducting an area orientation flight for the passenger. The investigator said the pilot was performing a crosswind landing on runway 24 at Fort Wainwright with full flaps. During the landing, as the tailwheel touched the runway, the right wing began to rise. The pilot added engine power to abort the landing, but the left wing struck the runway as the airplane became airborne. The pilot then performed an uneventful landing. The airplane was examined by maintenance personnel from Fairbanks. The examination disclosed damage to the outboard left wing rib, and the outboard left aileron rib. At 1855, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Fort Wainwright was reporting, in part: Wind, 330 degrees (true) at 15 knots; visibility, 13 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 8,000 feet, 20,000 feet scattered; temperature, 66 degrees F; dew point, 35 degrees F; altimeter, 29.77 inHg. The airline transport certificated pilot was performing a full stop landing in a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane with a 15-knot right quartering crosswind. The pilot reported that during the landing, as the tailwheel touched the runway, the right wing began to rise. He added engine power to abort the landing, but the left wing struck the runway as the airplane became airborne. The pilot then performed an uneventful landing. An examination of the left wing disclosed damage to the outboard left wing rib, and the outboard left aileron rib. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12