Cessna 185 N850WB accident near Anchorage, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion onto soft terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the pilot while landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot receiving instruction reported that he and the flight instructor were practicing takeoffs and landings in his airplane. On the second landing, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway onto soft terrain, and the airplane then spun abruptly to the right. The left wing and left elevator struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. The pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident might have been prevented if he had reacted more quickly and prevented the airplane from departing the runway.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC21LA002 for the full record.