Cessna 185 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, May 29, 2003
On May 29, 2003 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 185, registered N70162, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Wainwright Aaf airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswing during the landing roll. A factor contribuiting to the accident was the presence of a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2003 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Wainwright Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N70162 · registry record · serial 18502028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was performing a full stop landing in a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane with a 15-knot right quartering crosswind. The pilot reported that during the landing, as the tailwheel touched the runway, the right wing began to rise. He added engine power to abort the landing, but the left wing struck the runway as the airplane became airborne. The pilot then performed an uneventful landing. An examination of the left wing disclosed damage to the outboard left wing rib, and the outboard left aileron rib.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 4,250 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 30, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2003; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAFB Fairbanks AK at 8:50 pm
- Destination: PAFB
- Runway 24, 8,570 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 305° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from PAFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.