# NTSB ANC02TA001: Cessna 185F, N9344N, Bethel, AK, October 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: October 5, 2001, 17:50 local (Oct 6, 2001, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.75, -161.84111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7500&lon=-161.8411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02TA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55416/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02TA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated in the accident were a crosswind, and a worn tailwheel steering horn. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - worn (contributing factor) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot, with the two passengers, was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry, paved runway. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 18, he encountered wind estimated to be from 230 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot wrote: "Upon contact of the mains, I felt a very hard pull to the right. I then applied left rudder and brake, but this was ineffective in stopping it from coming around to the right." The airplane ultimately ground looped to the right, and the left wing and left elevator struck the edge of the runway. A postaccident disassembly and inspection of the accident airplane's tailwheel assembly revealed that tailwheel steering horn showed signs of wear. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2001, about 1750 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N9344N, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country government flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned and operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The public use flight was being operated in support of a bird survey for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The certificated commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 18, he encountered wind estimated to be from 230 degrees at 8 knots, which required a right crosswind correction. The pilot wrote: "Upon contact of the mains, I felt a very hard pull to the right. I then applied left rudder and brake, but this was ineffective in stopping it from coming around to the right." The airplane ultimately ground looped to the right, and the left wing and left elevator struck the edge of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. A postaccident disassembly and inspection of the accident airplane's tailwheel assembly revealed that tailwheel steering horn showed signs of wear. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9344N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504334 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: Office of Aircraft Services - Registered owner: U.S. Department of the Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 2001, 137.9 hours before - Departed: BET, Bethel, AK - Destination: BET, Bethel, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BET, Bethel, runway 18, 6,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,250 total, 350 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011005036449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011005036449A), Oct 5, 2001: Cessna A185F, Bethel, AK, No damage. (-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… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.