Cessna A185F accident near Fort Worth, Texas, March 17, 2012
On March 17, 2012 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N185GS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fort Worth, Texas (Hicks Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2012 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Hicks Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N185GS · registry record · serial 18503646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the centerline of runway 14. He maintained the airplane on the centerline during the landing roll until a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and full left brake, but the airplane continued to veer off the right side of the runway. The left gear collapsed when it struck the grass on the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the wind was 170 degrees at 16 knots with gusts up to 25 knots.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,550 hours in all; 750 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRX Paris TX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: T67 Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:53 pm from AFW, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N185GS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.