# NTSB CHI02LA124: Cessna 185F, N8081E, Cumberland, WI, April 29, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 2002, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Cumberland, WI
- Coordinates: 45.53012, -92.020744 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5301&lon=-92.0207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54673
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54673/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54673
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA124

## Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control after encountering high winds and gusty winds during taxi from landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, taxi - from landing
  - weather condition - high wind
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - weather condition - gusts

## Analysis

The pilot said that while taxing after landing a gust of wind lifted the right wing off the ground catching the left wing tip and stabilizer.  The pilot reported winds of 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots.  The pilot stated he "suspect this caused incident".

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 2002, at 1715 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 185F, N8081E, struck the left wingtip after landing at Cumberland Municipal Airport, Cumberland, Wisconsin.  The pilot, the sole occupant was not injured.  The aircraft was substantially damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was not on a flight plan. The flight had departed Boyceville, Wisconsin at 1645 cdt.

The pilot reported that after landing "while taxing to turn off gust of wind lifted right wing off ground forcing aircraft to turn right, catching left wing tip, and stabilizer...on downwind studied wind sock.  Appeared to have winds of approximately 280 var 300 at 20 kts.  However, after incident studied wind sock for several minutes.  Saw rotation of approximately 30 degrees (sp) to 330 degrees (sp) with gusts possibly over 25 kts.  Suspect this caused incident."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8081E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8081E), registered now, S/N 18502329, built 1974 (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: 185-02329
- Airframe hours: 2700
- Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 3T3, Boyceville, WI
- Destination: UBE, Cumberland, WI
- Airport: UBE, Cumberland Municipal, runway 27, 4,050 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 19,000 total, 53 in this make and model, 18,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °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 20020429011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020429011239A), Apr 29, 2002: Cessna A185F, Cumberland, WI, No damage. (-23) After landing and during taxi to turn off runway a gust of wind lifted right wing catching left wing and stabilizer. Substantial damage. Airman counseled…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54673. 417 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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