# NTSB DEN00TA049: Cessna A185F, N721, Loveland, CO, February 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: February 7, 2000, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Loveland, CO - Coordinates: 40.409694, -105.06929 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4097&lon=-105.0693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00TA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48600/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00TA049 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot in command to maintain directional control, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor, seated in the right seat (who was not current in the airplane), had been giving the commercial (first) pilot, seated in the left seat, a biennial flight review (BFR). At the conclusion of the BFR, it was agreed that the flight instructor would make a full stop landing. A normal approach to runway 15 was flown in a 'moderate' right crosswind (5 to 10 knot, variable). A full stall landing was made with a slight crab into the crosswind. The tail wheel touched down first, followed by the main gear. The airplane then veered right and ground looped. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a halt off the right side of runway 15. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 2000, approximately 1215 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N721, owned and operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport, Loveland, Colorado. The commercial certificated first pilot and the commercial certificated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the public use instructional flight, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Broomfield, Colorado, approximately 1030. According to the accident report submitted, the flight instructor, seated in the right seat, had been giving the commercial (first) pilot, seated in the left seat, a biennial flight review (BFR) to satisfy the requirements of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 61.56(c). At the conclusion of the BFR, it was agreed that the flight instructor would make a full stop landing (it was later learned the instructor was not current in aircraft category and class). A normal approach to runway 15 was flown in a "moderate" right crosswind (5 to 10 knot, variable). A full stall landing was made with a slight crab into the crosswind. The tail wheel touched down first, followed by the main gear. The airplane then veered right and ground looped. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a halt off the right side of runway 15. ## Aircraft - Registration: N721 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502795 - Airframe hours: 6929 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Public use - Operator: U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service - Registered owner: U.S. Dept. Of The Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 30, 1999, 105 hours before - Departed: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO - Destination: FNL - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FNL, Fort Collins-Loveland Mun, runway 15, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 4,030 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL ## 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 20000207011359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000207011359A), Feb 7, 2000: Cessna 185F, Fort Collins, CO, No damage. (-23) The flight instructor, seated in the right seat (who was not current in the airplane) had been giving the pilot in the left seat a biennial flight review… 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.