# NTSB ANC96TA087: Cessna 185F, N56581, Gustavus, AK, June 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 11, 1996, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Gustavus, AK - Coordinates: 58.420921, -135.780014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4209&lon=-135.7800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96TA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2920/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96TA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel airplane on a hard surfaced runway. The airplane's main landing gear wheels were equipped with over-sized, 'Tundra' tires. The pilot stated that immediately upon touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the right. He said he sensed a crosswind, and applied left aileron. He applied brakes, and heard the left wing scrapping the runway. When he exited the airplane, he noticed the left main tire was flat, and the left aileron was damaged. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1996, about 1210 Alaska daylight time, a "Tundra" tire equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N56581, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Gustavus Airport, Gustavus, Alaska. The solo, commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated in visual meteorological conditions by the U.S. National Park Service under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight last departed Yakutat, Alaska, about 1030. According to the pilot, as per a written statement given to a Federal Aviation Inspector on June 12, he said that as he approached Gustavus for landing, the Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS)was reporting the wind as 090 degrees at 6 knots. He said he observed no crosswind as he approached runway 10. He said upon touchdown, the airplane immediately began to veer to the right. Sensing a crosswind, the pilot said he "rolled in left aileron." He applied brakes, and heard the left wing scraping the runway. When the airplane came to rest, the pilot noted that the left tire was flat, and the left aileron was damaged. In the pilot's written statement submitted to the NTSB and dated June 17, the pilot stated, in part: "Immediately upon touchdown the plane began hard to the right. I applied the brakes and then heard the left wingtip scraping the runway. ...I did not sense any crosswind." Both versions of the pilot's statements are attached to this report. At 1214 local time, the AWOS positioned at the Gustavus airport reported the surface wind as 120 degrees at 5 knots. The airplane's left main wheel assembly, inclusive of the 8.50X10 inch tire, inner tube, and Gar Aero wheel adapters, were examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) at the Office of Aircraft Services (OAS) hangar in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 17. Neither the IIC, or the Chief of Maintenance for OAS, were able to find any evidence of preaccident mechanical deficiency or other anomaly with the wheel assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56581](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56581), registered now, S/N 18502907, built 1975 (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: 18502907 - Airframe hours: 3005 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: National Park Service - Registered owner: U.S. Department Of Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1996, 67 hours before - Departed: YAK, YAKUTAT, AK - Destination: GST - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GST, Gustavus, runway 10, 6,700 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,534 total, 222 in this make and model, 1,396 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GST ## 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 19960611030049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960611030049A), Jun 11, 1996: Cessna A185F, Gustavus, AK, Substantial damage. Left wing scraped runway landing. Right crosswind. Had tried to stop weathervane. Left tire flat. Over stressed. ## Other investigations on N56581 (1) 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 ANC96TA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96TA075), May 20, 1996: Cessna A-185-F (N56581), Juneau, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the crosswind. 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.