# NTSB CHI06LA255: Cessna A185E, N4730Q, Valentine, NE, August 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2006, 21:30 local (Aug 26, 2006, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Valentine, NE - Coordinates: 42.857776, -100.547775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8578&lon=-100.5478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64601/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA255 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop by the pilot. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusting crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot reported that when she applied the left brake the airplane ground looped. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: wind 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2006, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N4730Q, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane ground-looped during landing at Miller Field Airport, Valentine, Nebraska. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The pilot reported that she performed a "wheel landing" on runway 32 (4,700 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) and that after landing the airplane began to drift to the right. When the tail wheel contacted the runway she reported that the "right wheel dropped off of some uneven pavement". The pilot then applied the left brake and the airplane subsequently ground looped. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: wind 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4730Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4730Q), registered now, S/N 185-1184, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185E - 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: 185-1184 - Airframe hours: 4055.5 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: CWI, Clinton, IA - Destination: VTN, Valentine, NE - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: VTN, Miller Field Airport, runway 32, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 350° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: VTN ## 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 20060825017549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060825017549A), Aug 25, 2006: Cessna A185E, Valentine, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated she wheel landing on runway 32 at Valentine NE at 2130. It was dark and the wind was forecast 350 15 with gusts to 25. As she positioned the… ## Other investigations on N4730Q (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 DEN02LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA041), Apr 28, 2002: Cessna A185E (N4730Q), Greeley, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the inadvertent ground loop during landing roll. A contributing factor was the partial brake system failure. 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.