Cessna A185 accident near Luverne, Minnesota, April 3, 2026
On April 3, 2026 at about 3:19 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna A185, registered N430RP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Luverne, Minnesota (Quentin Aanenson Fld airport). It was an instructional 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 failure to maintain directional control during a gusting crosswind landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2026 · about 3:19 pm local time
- Place
- Luverne, Minnesota · Quentin Aanenson Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185 F, built 1976 · all A185s on the register
- Registration
- N430RP · registry record · serial 18503244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving flight instruction reported that, while practicing takeoff and landings, he aligned the airplane with the left side of the runway, as advised by his flight instructor, and touched down before the 1,000-foot markers. As the airplane landing roll progressed the tail of the airplane came down and the airplane began veering to the right. The pilot added left rudder until he was at full deflection, at which time he began adding left brake, but directional control continued to degrade. As the airplane approached the centerline, the flight instructor took control of the airplane. The flight instructor lifted the right wing to avoid collision with a runway edge light. The left wingtip contacted the runway followed by a grinding noise. The airplane exited the runway and overturned, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 36 with wind from 050 at 8 knots gusting to 16.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 39,470 hours in all; 1,610 in this make and model; 83.8 in the last 90 days; 62.2 in the last 30 days; 37,017 as pilot in command; 2,036 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 19, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,540 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,225 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 16, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,671.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-D (piston); 26 hours total
- Operator: Ts 185 LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KLYV Luverne MN at 2:30 pm
- Destination: KLYV Luverne MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from KLYV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.