# NTSB ATL94LA106: Cessna A185F, N8527Q, Chapel Hill, NC, May 25, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Chapel Hill, NC
- Coordinates: 35.920364, -79.040725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9204&lon=-79.0407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3390/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA106

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWINDS AND GUSTS PREVAILING AT THE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE FROM THE SOUTH AT 7 TO 10 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

## Factual narrative

On May 25, 1994, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N8527Q, was substantially damaged during a loss of directional control while landing at the Horace Williams Airport in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Columbia, South Carolina at 1330.

The pilot reported the following: He landed the airplane on runway 27 following a normal approach. During the landing rollout, a gust of wind was encountered, which turned the aircraft sideways (toward the south). The aircraft departed the runway surface and ground looped. Structural damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and right, main landing gear resulted. He reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft.

The Horace Williams Airport does not have weather reporting capability. The pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be out of the south at 7 to 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located about 13 miles east-southeast of Horace Williams, was reporting surface winds from 230 degrees at 10 knots, with no gusts, about 20 minutes after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8527Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503726
- Airframe hours: 2020
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Coffman, Edward K.
- Registered owner: North State Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1994, 38 hours before
- Departed: CUB, COLUMBIA, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: W52, Horace Williams, runway 27, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,850 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 14 nm away

## 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 19940525012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940525012579A), May 25, 1994: Cessna A185F, Chapel Hill, NC, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing and ground looped. Blamed wind gust. Not verified.

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.

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