# NTSB ANC11CA032: Cessna A185F, N125KT, Talkeetna, AK, May 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2011, 13:57 local (21:57 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.320556, -150.093612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3206&lon=-150.0936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 79131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was practicing stop-and-go takeoffs and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane with the commercial air taxi operator's chief pilot aboard. She said during the first landing, as the tailwheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the right. The airplane exited the runway to the right against the application of full left rudder. As the airplane departed the runway surface, the commercial pilot relinquished control to the company chief pilot in the right seat. During the runway excursion, the right wing came up, and the left wing struck the ground, substantially damaging the left wing. An examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot was practicing stop and go landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane with the commercial air taxi operator's chief pilot aboard. She said during the first landing, as the tailwheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the right. She applied left rudder, but the airplane exited the runway to the right. As the airplane left the runway, she relinquished control to the company chief pilot in the right seat. During the runway excursion, the right wing came up, and the left wing struck the ground, structurally damaging the left wing. An examination of the tailwheel assembly found no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125KT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125KT), registered now, S/N 18503494, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503494 - Airframe hours: 12409 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Rust Air Inc, doing business as K2 Aviation - Registered owner: Rust Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 2011 - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Airport: PATK, Talkeetna, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 4,216 total, 22 in this make and model, 1,781 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: PATK ## 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 20110517009899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110517009899A), May 17, 2011: Cessna A185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot in left seat made a wheel landing as tail came down a/c vered to right and pilot in the left seat over corrected to the left. The company ck pilot took… ## Other investigations on N125KT (2) 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 ANC08CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA062), May 5, 2008: Cessna 185 (N125KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was an inadvertent ground-loop. - [NTSB ANC92LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA093), Jun 18, 1992: Cessna 185F (N125KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE TAILWHEEL VIBRATION/SHIMMY, AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79131. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Operator)-Redacted.PDF 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.