# NTSB CHI96LA024: Cessna A185E, N1613M, Liberal, KS, October 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 1995, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Liberal, KS - Location: 37.0439° N, 100.9600° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LIBERAL MID-AMERICA RGNL (LBL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0439&lon=-100.9600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10146/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA024 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground swerve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,axle - overload ## Analysis AFTER LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND, WHICH TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND POWER TO CORRECT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR FAILED, AND THE AIRPLANE EXITED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY, COMING TO REST ON ITS NOSE AND RIGHT WING. REPORTED WINDS AT THE AIRPORT WERE 190 DEGREES AT 23 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 28 KNOTS. THERE WAS A RUBBER SKID MARK FOLLOWED BY METAL SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT TIRE HAD SCRATCHES ON THE OUTSIDE WALL, AND THE AXLE HAD SHEARED OFF AT THE FOUR BOLTS THAT ATTACHED IT TO THE LANDING GEAR. THE LEFT BOTTOM WING TIP WAS ALSO SCRATCHED. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 1995, at 1440 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna A185E, N1613M, operated and owned by an instrument rated commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during landing at Liberal Municipal Airport, Liberal, Kansas. While landing, the left main landing gear wheel broke off. The pilot reported minor injuries. A VFR flight plan was on file. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Platte Municipal Airport, Platte, South Dakota, at 1113 cdt. From the pilot's written statement, the pilot said he had landed on runway 17 and was taxiing to a taxiway turn off when the airplane veered to the right from a gust of wind. The pilot stated, " ...he applied full left rudder and applied power to correct but the airplane skidded to the right and tipped up on the nose and right wing tip... ." Five minutes before the accident, Liberal automatic weather observation station (AWOS) reported winds from 190 degrees at 23 knots with gusts to 28 knots. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) represented the NTSB during the on-scene investigation. The PMI said, there were 120 feet long rubber skid mark followed shortly after by a metal skid mark about 30 to 40 feet long on the runway. The left tire showed abrasive scratches on the outside of the tire and the axle was sheared off at the four bolts that attach it to the landing gear. The bottom of the left wing tip showed evidence of scrapping. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1613M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1613M), registered now, S/N 18501833, built 1970 (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-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501833 - Airframe hours: 1622 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sires, Roger R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 1995, 60 hours before - Departed: 1D3, PLATTE, SD - Destination: LBL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LBL, Liberal Municipal Airport, runway 17, 7,101 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,377 total, 588 in this make and model, 1,280 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 23 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F - Observed at: LBL ## 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 19951024039219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951024039219A), Oct 24, 1995: Cessna A185E, Liberal, KS, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear axle broke off during taxi to ramp in high wind conditions. 120 foot skid marks on runway. ## Other investigations on N1613M (3) 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 ANC03LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA031), Mar 9, 2003: Cessna 185 (N1613M), Galena, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the airplane to climb after takeoff which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during an aborted landing attempt. - [NTSB LAX98LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA299), Sep 20, 1998: Cessna 185E (N1613M), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the wheel assembly retention nuts and subsequent wheel separation. - [NTSB ANC86LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA117), Jul 30, 1986: Cessna 185E (N1613M), Tetlin, AK, substantial damage 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.