Date:	Monday 7 April 2025
Time:	14:30 LT
Type:	Cessna 185D Skywagon
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N1526F
MSN:	1850869
Year of manufacture:	1965
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW/KAUW), Wausau, WI -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Sault Ste Marie Municipal-Sanderson Airport, MI (SSM/KANJ)
Destination airport:	Wausau, WI
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 5 with reported strong and variable wind conditions. About 25 miles from the airport, the pilot obtained automated weather which reported the wind from 340° at 18 knots (kts) and gusting to 25 kts. When he rechecked the weather about 5 miles from the airport, the wind had shifted to 010° at 18 kts and gusting to 25 kts, so he maneuvered to land on runway 5. A few seconds before touchdown, the pilot perceived that the wind had shifted to favor runway 31. The airplane touched down, bounced, and the pilot applied power for a go-around; however, he lost rudder effectiveness and control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the left, the right main landing gear wheel separated, and the right wing contacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the rear spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in shifting wind conditions.

NTSB CEN25LA153
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=1526F

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N1526F/history/20250407/1729Z/KANJ/KAUW

https://photos.flightaware.com/photos/retriever/42a0d9a558ba203e5044f10ff9810492cb2e91a8 (photo)

Other occurrences involving this aircraft


31 July 1989

N1526F

Private

0

Wolfeboro, NH

sub

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
14-Apr-2025 20:20	Captain Adam	Added
22-Apr-2025 19:06	Captain Adam	Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ]
23-Jul-2025 10:44	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ]