NTSB Factual Report

On April 8, 2005, at 1644 Pacific daylight time, the wing of a Cessna 185F, N4948Q, impacted the runway during the landing roll at Rogue Valley International Airport, Medford, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Anacortes, Washington, about two and one-half hours prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who was landing in a variable wind, his touchdown and initial landing roll were uneventful, but as the aircraft slowed, it encountered a crosswind that he was unable to adequately compensate for. Almost immediately after encountering the crosswind, the aircraft veered sharply toward the side of the runway, and one of the wings made contact with the ground. It was later determined that the wing structure had sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the flight control or rudder system. In a post-accident interview with the Investigator-In-charge, the pilot stated that the aircraft just got away from him.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include variable winds that at times were crosswinds.