# NTSB ERA10CA068: Cessna C185F, N95JR, Auburn, ME, November 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 19, 2009, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Auburn, ME - Coordinates: 44.042221, -70.283332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0422&lon=-70.2833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75073/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75073 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was performing a “wheels” landing at the conclusion of a local flight. After the main wheels had touched down, the airplane yawed left and he corrected with right rudder. The airplane veered sharply to the right and began to skid sideways down the runway. The pilot was not able to recover from the skid before departing the right side of the runway. The left main gear dug into the ground and collapsed, and the airplane rolled onto its left side substantially damaging the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was performing a “wheels” landing at the conclusion of a local flight. After the main wheels had touched down, the airplane yawed left and he corrected with right rudder. The airplane veered sharply to the right and began to skid sideways down the runway. The pilot was not able to recover from the skid before departing the right side of the runway. The left main gear dug into the ground and collapsed, and the airplane rolled onto its left side substantially damaging the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N95JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95JR), registered now, S/N 18504074, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA C185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504074 - Airframe hours: 3130 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2009 - Departed: LEW, Auburn, ME - Destination: LEW, Auburn, ME - Airport: LEW, Auburn/Lewiston Airport, runway 04, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 447 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: LEW ## 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 20091119051619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091119051619A), Nov 19, 2009: Cessna A185F, Lewiston, ME, Substantial damage. While landing on runway 4 at Auburn-Lewiston airport (lew), the pilot performed a wheel landing. Pilot indicated the tail came down and started to go left,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75073. 545 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322142&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF 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.