# NTSB ANC92LA093: Cessna 185F, N125KT, Talkeetna, AK, June 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1992, 18:30 local (Jun 18, 1992, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449882, -149.79071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4499&lon=-149.7907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5744/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA093

## Probable cause

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FACTORS INCLUDE TAILWHEEL VIBRATION/SHIMMY, AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tailwheel - vibration (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING THE ATTEMPTED SHORT FIELD LANDING, THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 185F WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, GROUND LOOPED AND DRAGGED A WING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT THE TAILWHEEL HAD DEVELOPED A VIBRATION/SHIMMY DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE RUNWAY, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT WITH APPLICATION OF OPPOSITE RUDDER AND BRAKE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N125KT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125KT), registered now, S/N 18503494, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185F
- 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: 5173
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: K2 Aviation
- Registered owner: K2 Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 12, 1992, 18 hours before
- Departed: KAHILTNA GLACIE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: TKA, Talkeetna State Airport, runway 18, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 31 in this make and model, 2,450 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19920617020819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920617020819A), Jun 17, 1992: Cessna 185F, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Ground looped the tail wheel aircraft on landing.

## 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 ANC11CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA032), May 17, 2011: Cessna A185F (N125KT), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
- [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.

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.