Cessna 185 accident near Providence, Kentucky, May 12, 1996
On May 12, 1996 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N58LE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Providence, Kentucky (Providence-Webster County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Related factors are the crosswind weather condition, the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the intermittent binding of the left brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1996 · about 6:20 pm local time · cases in 1996
- Place
- Providence, Kentucky · Providence-Webster County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N58LE · registry record · serial 18504351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll that preceded the accident, he noted that the left brake was sticking. He proceeded to his destination and where he encountered a 90 degree left crosswind and moderate to severe turbulence. Because of the crosswind and left brake problem, the pilot decided to land on the right side of the runway. After touchdown the airplane started drifting right and the pilot applied light pressure to the left brake to compensate. The airplane veered to the left off the runway onto wet grassy terrain, and nosed over. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks which measured 300 to 400 feet in length, before they departed the left side of the runway. The tire skid marks continued across the grass, where they ended in front of the inverted airplane.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,236 hours in all; 477 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,073 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 954 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1996; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D13B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1M9 Lake Barkley KY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 8M9 KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from I26, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N58LE on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 185 Skywagon 228 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-550-D13B 3,077 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Providence-Webster County · nearest airport
- Lake Barkley State Park Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Kentucky 702 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Kentucky 2,977 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/IAD96LA075.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.