- Date
- August 15, 1995, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Teller, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4145YCessna 185A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 6, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19950815028579A
- Case key
- 2718
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Deflation of the left main tundra tire due to valve stem damage (failure) when the tire rotated independently of the wheel rim, resulting in loss of directional control and a ground swerve.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were landing at a coast guard station to begin work. The runway was 4,500 feet long and had an asphalt surface. The airplane was equipped with large tundra tires utilizing larger than standard wheel adapters. During the landing roll, the left main tire suddenly deflated, and the airplane ground looped. The airplane received damage to the left wing, left aileron, and left horizontal stabilizer. An inspection of the left main tire revealed that it had rotated independently from the wheel rim along the tire bead, which damaged the tire tube valve stem and deflated the tire.
Factual narrative
On August 15, 1995, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185A, N4145Y, crashed during landing at the Port Clarence Coast Guard station, about 13 miles west of Teller, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight to Port Clarence when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and 3 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Teller airport about 1005.
The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane on runway 34. Runway 34 is 4,500 feet long and has an asphalt surface. During the landing roll, the left main tire suddenly deflated and the airplane ground looped. The left wingtip contacted the runway surface. The airplane received damage to the left wing, left aileron, and left horizontal stabilizer.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that the airplane was utilizing larger than standard wheel adapters. During the landing, the left main tire rotated independently from the wheel rim and damaged the tire tube valve stem, deflating the tire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4145Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 185A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0345
- Engine
- Continental IO-470, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard L. Blodgett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AK54 · AK
- Destination
- KPC
- Airport
- KPC · Port Clarence Cgs, runway 34, 4,500 × 120 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4145Y · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.