- Date
- April 18, 2015, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Independence, IA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1558DCessna 195A
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20150418006359A
- Case key
- 91050
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
The pilot's attempt to land in strong crosswind conditions, resulting in his on-ground loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind that exceeded the crosswind limits of the airplane.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was landing on runway 36. After touching down, the airplane began a slow right turn. The pilot attempted to correct by applying left rudder and light braking, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and was substantially damaged. The wind was from 100 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots, which resulted in a 13.7 to 17.7 knot crosswind component, and a 2.5 to 3.2 knot tailwind component. Most light general aviation airplanes are limited to a direct crosswind component of 15 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot configured the airplane for a crosswind landing on runway 36 using cross controlled inputs. He flared and touched down in a 3-point attitude. After rolling 150 to 200 feet down the runway, the airplane began a slow right turn. He attempted to correct by applying left rudder and light braking, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear was torn off, and the left wing was bent upward after striking the ground.At the time of the accident, the wind was from 100 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. According to AeroPlanner.com "Wind Calculator and Wind Speed Measurement," these conditions would result in a 13.7 to 17.7 knot crosswind component, and a 2.5 to 3.2 knot tailwind component. In the 1950s, maximum crosswind components were not published by airframe manufacturers, but today light general aviation airplanes are limited to a direct crosswind component of 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1558D
- Reported as
- Cessna 195A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7780
- Built
- 1954
- Airframe hours
- 614
- Engine
- Jacobs R755 A-2, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hedeman, Donald L.
- Registered owner
- Hedeman, Donald L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KDBQ · Dubuque, IA
- Destination
- KIIB · Independence, IA
- Airport
- KIIB · Independence Municipal Airport, runway 36, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 23, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,812 total · 45 in this make and model · 2,654 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 83
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 22, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 11,578 total · 8,281 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KIIB
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.7 MB in all.
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 N1558D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.