Cessna A185E accident near Somerville, New Jersey, April 19, 2014
On April 19, 2014 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna A185E, registered N2219T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Somerville, New Jersey (Somerset Airport). It was a personal 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 while landing in a gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2014 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, New Jersey · Somerset Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E, built 1968 · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N2219T · registry record · serial 185-1371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that as he was approaching the destination airport with the intention of landing on runway 30. During the approach, the recorded weather information at the airport indicated a left crosswind at 9 knots, gusting to 12 knots. On final approach, the crosswind was stronger than the pilot expected. The airplane touched down on the asphalt runway, but then drifted left off the runway and into the grass. The nosegear and right float dug into the soft turf, which resulted in a noseover. During the noseover, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The recorded wind at the destination airport, shortly after the accident, was varying between 270 and 010 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 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)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 209 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2014; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,265 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5B2 Saratoga Spring NY at 2:15 pm
- Destination: SMQ Somerville NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 2,733 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SMQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.