ANC05CA062

Factual narrative

On April 25, 2005, about 1245 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N4563B, sustained substantial damage while landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Girdwood Airport, Girdwood, Alaska, about 1100. During an on scene conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 25, about 1315, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 24, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down on the dry, paved runway, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and the airplane veered to the left. He said he attempted to correct to the right, but the airplane went off the runway, ground looped to the left, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. Merrill Field weather observation at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 280 degrees (magnetic) at 5 knots. The commercial pilot reported he was landing the tundra tire-equipped tailwheel airplane on a dry, paved runway, with a slight crosswind from his right. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane went off the runway to the left, ground looped to the left, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. A weather observation taken at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 280 degrees (magnetic) at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12