# NTSB ANC98LA082: Cessna 185E, N85CF, Anchorage, AK, June 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 1998, 19:14 local (Jun 20, 1998, 03:14 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.159389, -149.99089 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3166/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA082 ## Probable cause The rotation/slippage of the right main tire on the wheel rim, resulting in shearing of the tire tube valve stem, and subsequent tire deflation. Factors in the accident were oversize, tundra tires operated on a dry, asphalt runway surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - other (contributing factor) - landing gear,wheel - other (contributing factor) - landing gear,tire - slipped (cause) - landing gear,tire - low pressure (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tail wheel equipped airplane on a dry, asphalt runway. The airplane had 24 inch tundra tires installed. The oversize tires utilize a large wheel rim adapter attached to the normal wheel rim. During the landing roll, the right tire deflated. The airplane veered to the right, and the right wing tip struck the runway. The airplane began to ground loop, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane nosed down, coming to rest in a near vertical attitude. An inspection of the wheel revealed the right main tire tube valve stem was broken. The wheel adapter rim displayed scuffing on the outboard half of the wheel. The main wheel half was not damaged. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 1998, about 1914 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire and tail wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N85CF, sustained substantial damage while landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska, about 1845. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 19, 1998, at 1940, the pilot reported he landed on runway 15 at Merrill Field. The runway surface was dry asphalt. During the landing roll, the right tire deflated. The airplane veered to the right, and the right wing tip struck the runway. The airplane began to ground loop, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane nosed down, coming to rest in a near vertical attitude. The airplane received damage to the propeller, engine cowling, firewall, and right wing tip. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported he examined the airplane's right main tire. The inspector noted that the tire tube valve stem was broken, and the right tire deflated. The 24 inch tundra tire wheel adapter displayed scuffing on the outboard half of the wheel. The main wheel half was not damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85CF), registered now, S/N 18501904, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501904 - Airframe hours: 1986 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry J. Jacques - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK - Destination: MRI - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 15, 2,640 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,067 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,067 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MRI ## 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 19980619020329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980619020329A), Jun 19, 1998: Cessna A185E, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Blew a tire landing. Swerved. Wing hit ground began ground loop. Hit brakes nosed down. Tundra tire equipped. (.4)the pilot was landing a tail wheel equipped… ## Other investigations on N85CF (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 ANC16LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA046), Jul 19, 2016: Cessna A185 (N85CF), Illiamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The overstress fracture of the left main landing (MLG) gear axle attachment bolts and the subsequent separation of the left MLG wheel, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the airplane. 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.