Cessna A185 accident near Chandler, Arizona, May 5, 2018
On May 5, 2018 at about 6:05 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna A185, registered N76SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Chandler, Arizona (Chandler Muni 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 during landing in gusting tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2018 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Chandler Muni · 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 1981 · all A185s on the register
- Registration
- N76SC · registry record · serial 18504206
- 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 tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during final approach, the airplane required about 10° of crab to the right to maintain alignment with the runway. During the landing flare, he reduced power to idle, slowly applied rudder to align the fuselage with the runway centerline, and added right aileron to counter the crosswind. He added that, during the three-point landing, the airplane bounced. During the landing roll, he had full right aileron countering the wind when a "perceived" gust lifted the right wing. He held full right aileron, full aft yoke, and used the rudder to maintain alignment. Subsequently, about 40 knots groundspeed, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that the left main landing gear detached from the airplane. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about 20 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 110° at 8 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The same observation system reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 150° at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot landed on runway 4R.
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 approach
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
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 › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,250 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6,150 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,188.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: CHD Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 04R, 4,870 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KCHD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 31, 2018. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - FAA Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Picture | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N76SC 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.