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ANC21LA026

2021-03-20 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FAI

Current FAA registration · N58316

Make / Model
CESSNA A185F
Year of manufacture
1977 · 44 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19770214
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A783A7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on an asphalt surfaced runway in a slight right crosswind. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right. Not knowing the reason for the veer, the pilot allowed the airplane to turn to the right and did not attempt to correct. The airplane ground looped to the right and the left wing impacted the ground sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot listed multiple ways the accident may have been prevented, including but not limited to, receiving additional training on landing technique in the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_ANC21LA026.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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