# Accident 19980816021129A: Cessna A185E, Susanville, CA, August 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 1998, 17:30 local time
- Place: Susanville, CA
- Airport: Susanville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5701° N, 120.6097° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5701&lon=-120.6097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8482D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8482D) (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: 3,200 total, 450 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA268) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980816021129A

## Narrative

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

PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT ON TAKEOFF, AND THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. (-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 29 AT SUSANVILLE, CA THE COMMERCIAL PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ON THE RIGHT WING AND EMPENNAGE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED WITH A 45 DEGREE CROSWING COMPONENT AND WINDS ESTIMATED TO EXCEED 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS. (.4) ON AUGUST 16, 1998, AT 1730 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 185,  N8482, GROUND LOOPED DURING TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 19 AT THE SUSANVILLE, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PASSENGER, THE SOLE OCCUPANTS, WERE NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDTIONS PREVAILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 300 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE FELT A STRONG WIND GUST FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT HEADING WITH FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BAKE. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND CAME TO REST       ON THE RUNWAY 120 DEGREES FROM ITS INITIAL HEADING. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT STABILIZER, AND ELEVATOR. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 240 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 21 KNOTS. A WITNESS ON THE AIRPORT SAID THAT THE WINDS WERE "UNPREDICTABLY GUSTY" AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, BUT STATED THAT HE "COULD HAVE MADE A MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF [THE] SEVERITY OF GUSTS AND NOT ATTEMPTED THE TAKEOFF."

## 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 LAX98LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA268), Aug 17, 1998: Cessna 185 (N8482D), Susanville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the gusty wind conditions.

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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