19970830024949A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna A185F · Kotzebue, AK · August 30, 1997

Date: August 30, 1997 · 19:50 local
Place: Kotzebue, AK
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: M9UC
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N93276
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC97LA136
Reported as: Cessna A185F
Reported engine: Continental IO520D
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,000 total2,500 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N93276Registered now · Cessna A185FS/N 18503208 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna A185F Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The pilot landing the tundra tire equipped airplane on a 600 feet long x 75 feet wide gravel landing area. The pilot stated that the off-airport site was too short to stop, so he attempted to ground loop to the left to avoid running off the end into a drop off. The right wing and right stabilizer contacted the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE PILOT LANDING THE TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A 600 FEET LONG X 75 FEET WIDE GRAVEL LANDING AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OFF-AIRPORT SITE WAS TOO SHORT TO STOP, SO HE ATTEMPTED TO GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE END INTO A DROP OFF. THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT STABILIZER CONTACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC97LA136Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKotzebue, AKThe pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. A factor was the short length of the off-airport site.Aug 31, 1997 · Substantial damage