# Accident 19980701023959A: Cessna A185E, Iliamna, AK, July 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 1998, 11:20 local time
- Place: Iliamna, AK
- Airport: Iliamna
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 59.8496° N, 154.5605° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8496&lon=-154.5605&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4574F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4574F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,520 total, 224 in this make and model, 63 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980701023959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 17 IN A TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HE INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO MEET THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND REQUIREMENTS FOR A TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER, SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, WAS NOT A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.  THE PILOT STATED THAT WIND CONDITIONS AT THE IME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE VARIED, AND WERE LAST REPORTED TO BE FROM 090 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT.  HE SAID THAT HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN HEADING, BUT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT.  HE STATED THAT UPON REACHING THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE LEFT WHEEL LOST TRACTION IN LOOSE GRAVEL.. HE SAID THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL MAINTAINED TRACTION, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT.  DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT WING, AILERON, AND LEFT ELEVATOR STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  AT 1153, AN AVIATION ROUTINE WEATHER REPORT (METAR) WAS REPORTING IN PART:  WIND, 159 DEGREES (MAGNETIC) AT 7 KNOTS.                                                            (-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1130 ADT ON JULY 1, 1998 A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 185 AIRPLANE N4574F LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED UPON LANDING AT ILIAMNA, ALASKA. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS ROBERT A. MEALING, EMPLOYED BY ILIAMNA LODGE WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD, NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. WIND WAS 090 AT 9 KTS. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT WAS NOT TAILWHEEL CURRENT AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA089), Jul 1, 1998: Cessna 185E (N4574F), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind and the pilot's lack of recent experience in a tailwheel airplane.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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