# NTSB ANC05CA060: Cessna A185E, N4557F, Wasilla, AK, April 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2005, 19:30 local (Apr 18, 2005, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.571666, -149.540283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5717&lon=-149.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61342 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61342/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA060 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to provide adequate supervision of the second pilot during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and an intentional ground-loop by the instructor. A factor in the accident was the dual student's ( a certificated private pilot) loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Abrupt maneuver, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The certificated flight instructor pilot was giving landing instruction to a private pilot prior to administering a biennial flight review. The flight instructor reported that during the accident landing, with the private pilot operating the controls, the airplane swung to the right, and with full left brake applied, the airplane still continued to the right. The instructor said he took control of the airplane, and intentionally applied the right brake and ground-looped the airplane to prevent it from exiting the runway and encountering a ditch. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 2005, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N4557F, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during the landing roll at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the flight instructor as a visual flight rules (VFR) local instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight instructor (first pilot) and the certificated private pilot (second pilot), were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 18, the first pilot said he was giving instruction to the second pilot prior to administering a biennial flight review. He said during the accident landing, the second pilot lost directional control, and he took control and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent a runway excursion. The first pilot said the airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. In a written statement to the NTSB dated May 2, the first pilot wrote that the wind speed may have picked up, or the wind direction may have changed to more of a direct crosswind. He reported the winds as 220 degrees magnetic at 6-9 knots with gusts to 12 knots. He wrote that upon touchdown on runway 21, the airplane swung to the right, and that even with application of full left brake, the airplane continued to the right. He said he applied right brake and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent it from exiting the runway and encountering a ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4557F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4557F), registered now, S/N 185-1061, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1061 - Engines: Continental IO-520D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: James Kincaid - Registered owner: James Kincaid - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: PAWS, Wasilla, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,210 total, 2,000 in this make and model - Pilot; injuries: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Observed at: PAWS ## 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 20050418006489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050418006489A), Apr 18, 2005: Cessna A185E, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) This certified flight instructor was conducting instruction with a private pilot in preparation for a bfr. Control of the aircraft was lost during a… ## Other investigations on N4557F (3) 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 ANC13CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA069), Jul 29, 2013: Cessna A185E (N4557F), Kotzebue, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's lack of situational awareness and failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident was the check airmen’s inadequate supervision. - [NTSB ANC80DA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA053), Jun 17, 1980: Cessna 185 (N4557F), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC76DAH41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH41), Jul 1, 1976: Cessna 185E (N4557F), Gibralter Lake, AK, substantial damage 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.