- Date
- July 20, 1998, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Erie, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N21827Cessna A188B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980720016779A
- Case key
- 43176
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 of the airplane. A factor was a crosswind gust.
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 landed on runway 33. When the airplane was approximately midfield, 'a gust of wind overcame my ability to keep the airplane in center of runway,' and 'caused me to yaw to the right.' The wind gust was encountered just as the tail wheel was about to touch down, 'when rudder is least effective.' The airplane ground looped, shearing the attach bolts on the left main landing gear and causing it to collapse. The right wing also sustained damage. Reported winds were from 010 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On July 20, 1998, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N21827, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during the landing roll at Tri-Country Airport, Erie, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant onboard, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by its owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated approximately 1100.
According to the pilot's accident report, he landed on runway 33. When the airplane was approximately midfield, "a gust of wind overcame my ability to keep the airplane in center of runway," and "caused me to yaw to the right." The wind gust was encountered just as the tail wheel was about to touch down, "when rudder is least effective." The airplane ground looped, shearing the attach bolts on the left main landing gear and causing it to collapse. The right wing also sustained damage. Reported winds were from 010 degrees at 5 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N21827
- Reported as
- Cessna A188B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18801063
- Airframe hours
- 3,750
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas A. Linn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 24, 1998 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 48V
- Destination
- 48V
- Airport
- 48V · Tri-County, runway 33, 4,700 × 60 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 917 total · 80 in this make and model · 837 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 7 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.