- Date
- March 1, 1999, 16:02 local (23:02 UTC)
- Place
- Durango, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9823XCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990301001949A
- Case key
- 45812
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and inadvertently allowing the airplane to ground loop. Factors were gusty crosswind conditions, pertinent crosswind information not made available by the manufacturer, and FAA's inadequate certification and approval of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said the wind was 'steady at 14 mph, gusting to 24 mph,' between 240 and 260 degrees, as he attempted to make a crosswind wheel landing on runway 20. When the airplane touched down, the left wheel 'skidded' when left brake was applied. The airplane ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was FAA certificated under Type Certificate 3A24. No maximum or demonstrated crosswind component is listed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
Factual narrative
On March 1, 1999, at 1602 mountain standard time, Cessna 185, N9823X, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at the Durango-La Plata County Airport, Durango, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Durango approximately 1545.
According his accident report, the pilot said the wind was "steady at 14 mph, gusting to 24 mph," between 240 and 260 degrees, as he attempted to make a crosswind wheel landing on runway 20. When the airplane touched down, the left wheel "skidded" when left brake was applied. The airplane ground looped and departed the right side of the runway, incurring substantial damage to the left wing.
N9823X, a 1961 Cessna 185, was certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration under Type Certificate 3A24. No maximum or demonstrated crosswind component is listed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook.
According to FAA's Flight Standards District Office in Salt Lake City, Utah, this was the pilot's fourth accident and the third one in this particular airplane, to wit:
August 16, 1989 Cessna 185 N9823X August 16, 1990 Mooney M20 N100JM June 13, 1992 Cessna 185 N9823X March 1, 1999 Cessna 185 N9823X
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9823X
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0023
- Airframe hours
- 2,301
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jack L. Heath
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1999 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- DRO
- Airport
- DRO · Durango-La Plata County, runway 20, 9,201 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 974 total · 850 in this make and model · 974 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DRO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9823X · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.