# NTSB ERA14CA204: Cessna A185E, N2219T, Somerville, NJ, April 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2014, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Somerville, NJ - Coordinates: 40.62611, -74.67028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6261&lon=-74.6703&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89088/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89088 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA204 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusty crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 A185E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072818), [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 A185E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that as he was approaching the destination airport with the intention of landing on runway 30. During the approach, the recorded weather information at the airport indicated a left crosswind at 9 knots, gusting to 12 knots. On final approach, the crosswind was stronger than the pilot expected. The airplane touched down on the asphalt runway, but then drifted left off the runway and into the grass. The nosegear and right float dug into the soft turf, which resulted in a noseover. During the noseover, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The recorded wind at the destination airport, shortly after the accident, was varying between 270 and 010 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that as he was approaching the destination airport with the intention of landing on runway 30. During the approach, the recorded weather information at the airport indicated a left crosswind at 9 knots, gusting to 12 knots. On final approach, the crosswind was stronger than the pilot expected. The airplane touched down on the asphalt runway, but then drifted left off the runway and into the grass. The nosegear and right float dug into the soft turf, which resulted in a noseover. During the noseover, the right wing impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The recorded wind at the destination airport, shortly after the accident, was varying between 270 and 010 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2219T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2219T), registered now, S/N 185-1371, built 1968 (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: 185-1371 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3921 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Skevington - Registered owner: Olde North Church LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2014, 3 hours before - Departed: 5B2, Saratoga Spring, NY - Destination: SMQ, Somerville, NJ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SMQ, Somerset Airport, runway 30, 2,733 × 65 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 209 total, 50 in this make and model, 154 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: SMQ ## 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 20140419004159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140419004159A), Apr 19, 2014: Cessna A185E, Somerville, NJ, Substantial damage. The pilot appears to have made a normal landing in the first third of runway 30 at smq. During the rollout the aircraft drifted off the left side of the… ## Other investigations on N2219T (1) 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 FTW74AF081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74AF081), May 8, 1974: Cessna 185 (N2219T), Lafitte, LA, minor damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89088. 684 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Right Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.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.