Cessna A185 accident near Richland, Washington, October 27, 2020
On October 27, 2020 at about 5:12 pm local time, a 1984 Cessna A185, registered N814BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Richland, Washington (Richland Airport). It was an other work-use 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 airplane control during landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2020 · about 5:12 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · Richland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185, built 1984 · all A185s on the register
- Registration
- N814BA · no longer on the register · serial 18504418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use 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 a wheel landing, the airplane touched down on both main landing gear as he intended, and he applied some forward pressure on the flight stick to keep the weight off the tail. The pilot employed “adequate” brake pressure as he reduced power normally and the airplane started to slow. He then applied light brake pressure between the pedals to keep the airplane on the runway centerline before the tail touched down, but the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The left wing and wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,540 as pilot in command; 605 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,444 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 31, 2020; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-L (piston); 5,355 hours total
- Operator: Barr Air Patrol LLC
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA at 5:08 pm
- Destination: RLD Richland WA
- Runway 26, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.41 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from KRLD
Weather report (METAR): KRLD 271715Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM CLR 01/M03 A3041 RMK AO2 T00111032
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 August 20, 2021. 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 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.