Cessna A185F accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas, April 28, 2011
On April 28, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N2530S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hot Springs, Arkansas (Memorial Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hot Springs, Arkansas · Memorial Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2530S · no longer on the register · serial 18502245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot approached the runway for a full stop landing with the wing flaps fully extended. On touchdown the airplane bounced twice and the left wingtip impacted the runway. The pilot was able to regain control of the airplane and taxied to parking. The airplane’s left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage during the impact. Seven minutes before the accident, the automated weather observing system (AWOS) at the airport reported variable wind at 6 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,061 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ten South Skywagon LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Hot Hot Springs AR
- Destination: Hot Hot Springs AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 23, 6,595 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HOT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.