Cessna A185F accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, February 28, 2014
On February 28, 2014 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna A185F, registered N30AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County Airport). 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 during the takeoff with a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2014 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Texas · Gillespie County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1974 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N30AW · registry record · serial 18502369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taking off from runway 32, the airplane encountered a crosswind. As soon as the tailwheel came off of the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder and brake; however, the airplane continued off of the runway. The right wing dragged on the ground and the right main landing gear separated resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 240 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,584 hours in all; 416 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10.5 in the last 30 days; 3,272 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 13, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,686 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-550D (piston); 632 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T82 Fredericksburg TX
- Destination: LZZ Lampasas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KT82
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.
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.