# NTSB CEN20CA285: Cessna A185, N2231T, Rochester, IN, July 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2020, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Rochester, IN - Coordinates: 41.065555, -86.181663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0656&lon=-86.1817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 101609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101609/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101609 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA285 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing resulting in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot, with a passenger onboard, stated they were landing on runway 11 and had completed a "3-point landing." On rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and full left brake, but he was unable to stop the right turn. The airplane ground looped and came to rest in the grass on the right side of the runway. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged when it struck the ground. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative The private pilot, with a passenger onboard, stated they were landing runway 11 and had completed a "3-point landing." On rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and full left brake, but he was unable to stop the right turn. The airplane ground looped and came to rest in the grass on the right side of the runway. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged when it struck the ground. The pilot indicated that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2231T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2231T), registered now, S/N 185-1383, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1383 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5539 - Engines: Continental IO520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2020 - Departed: N27, Towanda, PA - Destination: RCR, Rochester, IN - Airport: RCR, Fulton County, runway 11, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review November 6, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 2,112 total, 1,144 in this make and model, 2,017 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20200715012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200715012509A), Jul 15, 2020: Cessna A185E, Rochester, IN, Substantial damage. On July 15, 2020, at approximately 1630 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 185 aircraft, N2231T, departed the runway surface at fulton county airport (rcr),… ## Other investigations on N2231T (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 SEA84LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA120), May 26, 1984: Cessna A185E (N2231T), Refuge Cove, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101609. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11387575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20CA285%20Completed%206120%20w%20blocks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph of the accident airplane (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11387845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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.