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GAA19CA327

2019-06-07 · Gulkana, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GKN

Current FAA registration · N4057Y

Make / Model
CESSNA 185A
Year of manufacture
1961 · 58 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4C298

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of airplane control just before touchdown in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in ground loop after touchdown.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that just before touchdown, a wind gust lifted the left wing and the right wing impacted the runway. The right wheel touched down and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, just before touchdown, a wind gust lifted the left wing, and the right wing impacted the runway. The right wheel touched down, and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA327.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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