Cessna A185F accident near Lansing, Michigan, July 19, 2025
On July 19, 2025 at about 2:53 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna A185F, registered N888DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lansing, Michigan (Capital Region International A airport). 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 landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing in a crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2025 · about 2:53 pm local time
- Place
- Lansing, Michigan · Capital Region International A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1982 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N888DK · registry record · serial 18504385
- 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 flared too high during the landing, possibly due to a runway width illusion. The airplane bounced on contact with the runway and then began to weathervane into the crosswind. The pilot stated he performed control inputs to minimize the ground loop but was unsuccessful and the right wing scraped the runway. Contact with the runway resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 28L with wind from 200° at 8 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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 173 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,652.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D027B (piston); 544 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOEB Coldwater MI at 2:24 pm
- Destination: KLAN Lansing MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 8,506 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KLAN
Weather report (METAR): KLAN 191453Z 20008KT 10SM FEW030 SCT037 OVC044 24/19 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02390194 58007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.