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ANC16CA036

2016-06-29 · King Salmon, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport AKN

Current FAA registration · N3969Q

Make / Model
CESSNA A185F
Year of manufacture
1974 · 42 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19810609
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A49CB5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusty wind conditions, resulting in a noseover.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that upon touchdown on runway 12, the left quartering headwind switched to a direct crosswind forcing the nose of the airplane to the left. The right wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 070 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that upon touchdown on runway 12, the left quartering headwind switched to a direct crosswind forcing the nose of the airplane to the left.  The right wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 070 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 22 knots.  The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_ANC16CA036.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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