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WPR20CA204

2020-07-02 · San Diego, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MYF

Current FAA registration · N3086W

Make / Model
CESSNA A185E
Year of manufacture
1972 · 48 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19910906
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A34049

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a crosswind and excessive braking action, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was landing with a left crosswind. As the airplane was slowing, the left wing dropped and the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct the movement with full right aileron control, but the airplane continued to the left. The pilot reported that he then applied the brakes too hard, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on equipment

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_WPR20CA204.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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