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ANC21LA045

2021-06-05 · Chandalar Lake, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport WCR

Current FAA registration · N85DT

Make / Model
CESSNA A185F
Year of manufacture
1978 · 43 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO-520-D (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20200619
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABA55C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s over application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing after the tail had settled, he applied the brakes too hard. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing, right wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. As a recommendation, the pilot added that he should not have applied the brakes as hard. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Incorrect use/operation
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_ANC21LA045.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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