NTSB CEN14CA177 — 2014-02-28 · Fredericksburg, Texas, United States

Current FAA registration · N30AW

Make / Model: CESSNA A185F
Year of manufacture: 1974 · 40 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines: 6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19960816
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A31D0E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N30AW Cessna A185F None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff with a gusting crosswind.

Factual narrative

While taking off from runway 32, the airplane encountered a crosswind. As soon as the tailwheel came off of the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder and brake; however, the airplane continued off of the runway. The right wing dragged on the ground and the right main landing gear separated resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 240 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. While taking off from runway 32, the airplane encountered a crosswind. As soon as the tailwheel came off of the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder and brake; however, the airplane continued off of the runway. The right wing dragged on the ground and the right main landing gear separated resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 240 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_CEN14CA177.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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