# NTSB CHI95LA276: Cessna A185E, N47428, Dickinson, ND, August 14, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1995, 12:17 local (18:17 UTC)
- Place: Dickinson, ND
- Coordinates: 46.880706, -102.780151 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8807&lon=-102.7802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA276
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9993/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA276

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his improper recovery from the bounced landing. The high wind was a factor.

## 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, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During a landing in strong wind conditions, the airplane bounced and impacted right wing first. The pilot said that the windsock was straight out. A weather observation on the airport reported a wind of 19 knots from 260 degrees. The landing was on runway 25.

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 1995, at 1217 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N47428, owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 25 at Dickinson, North Dakota.  The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions on a VFR flight plan.  The flight departed Huron, South Dakota, at 0958 with an original planned destination of Glasgow, Montana; however, the destination was changed to Dickinson, North Dakota, for a refueling stop.

The pilot stated that he recognized that there were strong winds.  He noted that on final approach the windsock was "straight out."  He said that on initial touch touchdown the airplane ballooned, followed by the left wing rising and the airplane drifting off the runway to the right.  He reported that the airplane impacted right wing first, followed by the nose and then by the left wing and tail.

A weather observation at Dickinson, North Dakota, taken at 1050 indicated winds from 260 degrees at 19 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47428](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47428), registered now, S/N 185-1196, 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: 185-1196
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Widmer, Stephen K.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1994, 83 hours before
- Departed: HON, HURON, SD
- Destination: DIK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DIK, Dickinson Municipal, runway 25, 3,405 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,682 total, 470 in this make and model, 2,666 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DIK

## 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 19950814024019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950814024019A), Aug 14, 1995: Cessna A185E, Dickinson, ND, Substantial damage. Bounced ballooned landing. Wing hit ground in drift. Cartwheeled. Improper recovery. Lacked crosswind skill. (-23) pilot and two (2) passengers departed huron,…

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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