What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On October 5, 2001 at about 1800 local time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane ground looped on landing at Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as public use by the U.S. Department of the interior to support a bird survey for the U.S. Fish and wildlife. The flight was conducted under (VFR) title 14 CFR part 91. The FAA commercial certificated pilot and two passengers were not injured as a result of the accident. The pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 18 at Bethel, Alaska, he encountered a 8 knot, right quartering crosswind. On touchdown, the aircraft pulled hard to the right and the use of left rudder and brake were ineffective in arresting the ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left horizontal and elevator.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON OCTOBER 5, 2001 AT ABOUT 1800 LOCAL TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA 185 AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING AT BETHEL, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS PUBLIC USE BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR TO SUPPORT A BIRD SURVEY FOR THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER (VFR) TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. THE FAA COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 18 AT BETHEL, ALASKA, HE ENCOUNTERED A 8 KNOT, RIGHT QUARTERING CROSSWIND. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE USE OF LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE WERE INEFFECTIVE IN ARRESTING THE GROUND LOOP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, LEFT HORIZONTAL AND ELEVATOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.