No fatalities

Runway Impact During Landing Caused Substantial Right-Wing Damage

Gulkana, AK, United States

On June 8, 2019, a Cessna 185 A was involved in an aviation accident near Gulkana, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of airplane control just before touchdown in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in ground loop after touchdown. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that a wind gust lifted the left wing just before touchdown, causing the right wing to strike the runway. The aircraft ground-looped left, sustaining substantial right-wing damage, with no preaccident mechanical failures reported.

Incident Description and Damage Assessment The pilot reported that, just before touchdown, a wind gust lifted the left wing, causing the right wing to impact the runway. Following the right wheel touchdown, the airplane ground-looped to the left. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing. ## Mechanical Condition The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No other mechanical issues were identified in the source material as contributing to the event. ## Operational Context The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location. The account is limited to the pilot's report of the wind gust, the resulting runway impact, the ground loop, and the extent of the damage to the right wing.

Contributing factors

Performance/control parameters — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotEffect on operation