Cessna 185F accident near Fresno, California, August 23, 1989
On August 23, 1989 at about 2:17 am local time, a Cessna 185F, registered N1562H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1989 · about 2:17 am local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185F · all 185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1562H · no longer on the register · serial 18503308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED HIS CESSNA 185F ON THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AND DUE TO OTHER LANDING TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE RUNWAY ON A HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED THE AIRCRAFT'S BRAKES, BUT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR INSPECTED AND TESTED THE LEFT BRAKE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A BRAKE FAILURE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 9,222 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 2:28 am from FAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.