# NTSB ERA20CA091: Cessna 185, N1557F, Laytonsville, MD, January 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 17, 2020, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Laytonsville, MD - Coordinates: 39.243331, -77.150001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2433&lon=-77.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA091 ## Probable cause The failure of the tailwheel attachment tube during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and the left main landing gear collapsing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 185D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072812), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After two uneventful circuits in the traffic pattern, the pilot aligned the airplane to the runway for another a touch-and-go landing. As he applied engine power, he used the right rudder to center the airplane on the runway. About 50 ft into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left. The pilot applied right brake and right rudder to correct; however, the airplane became "momentarily airborne." He reduced the engine power, and as the airplane settled back onto the runway, it veered right. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane by applying the brakes; however, it continued off the right side of the runway and traveled through mud, and subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing, left elevator, and left horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The tailwheel attachment tube was separated from the empennage, but the tailwheel control cables remained attached. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. After two uneventful circuits in the traffic pattern, he aligned the airplane up on runway 8 for another takeoff. As he applied engine power, he used the right rudder to center the airplane on the runway. About 50 ft into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right brake and right rudder, however the airplane became "momentarily airborne." He reduced engine power and as the airplane settled back onto the runway, it veered to the right. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane by applying the brakes, however, it continued off the right side of the runway, traveled through mud, and subsequently the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing, left elevator, and left horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged in the accident sequence.An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest on the left side of the fuselage. The tailwheel attachment tube was separated from the empennage, but the tailwheel control cables remained attached. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1557F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1557F), registered now, S/N 185-0928, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 (D) - Registry model: [Cessna 185D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185d) (registry code 2072812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0928 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3697.3 - Engines: Continental IO-470 SERIES 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2019, 14 hours before - Departed: W50, Laytonsville, MD - Destination: W50, Laytonsville, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W50, Davis, runway 08, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 4, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,800 total, 900 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.69 inHg - Observed at: GAI, 5 nm away ## 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 20200117011239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200117011239A), Jan 17, 2020: Cessna 185D, Laytonsville, MD, Substantial damage. In reviewing the video available from the airport operator, about three seconds into the takeoff rollout, the aircraft veered hard to the left. Corrective… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100889. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 715 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Surveillance Video of Takeoff (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481825&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Surveillance%20Video%20of%20Takeoff-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 4, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.