# Accident 19981102031089A: Cessna A185E, Tucson, AZ, November 2, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 2, 1998, 11:00 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Tucson International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5399° N, 110.9498° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5399&lon=-110.9498&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185Z) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,964 total, 81 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981102031089A

## Narrative

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

ON 11/02/98 PILOT DOUGLAS W. CASE (PILOT CERTIFICATE 001434852 ATP) AT 1101 MST WAS ON THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF A VFR LOCAL PART 91 FLIGHT FROM TUCSON, AZ, IN HIS CESSNA 185-A185E (SN1363) N185Z, WHEN THE PILOT SEAT SLID AFT. WHEN THE SEAT MOVED AFT MR. CASE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGING THE RT WING AND STABLIZER, RIGHT SIDE AND RIGHT ELEVATOR. MR. CASE WAS NOT INJURED. (.19)ON NOVEMBER 2, 1998, AT 1101 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 185, N185Z, GROUND LOOPED AND DEPARTED RUNWAY 11L ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL AT THE TUCSON, ARIZONA, AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.THE PILOT STATED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, THAT ON TAKEOFF HIS SEAT SLID BACKWARDS AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUDDER PEDALS OR THROTTLE. (.4) ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT'S SEAT SLID BACK. THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE LEFT, WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO PLACE.  AFTER THE UNSUCCE SSFUL ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO PLACE, THE PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP AFTER A GROUND LOOP. THE SEATS WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORE AND AFT.  THE SEAT RAILS AND LATCHING MECHANISMS WERE INSPECTED AND NO DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED.

## 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 LAX99LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA021), Nov 2, 1998: Cessna 185E (N185Z), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to properly secure the seat which subsequently slid back on the takeoff roll and lead to the pilot's loss of aircraft control.

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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