# NTSB GAA15CA213: Cessna A185F, N185DK, Dauphin Island, AL, July 11, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2015, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Dauphin Island, AL - Coordinates: 30.260555, -88.127777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2606&lon=-88.1278&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 September 30, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91710/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91710 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll in gusty wind conditions which resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain. ## 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 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) - [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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072821), [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-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, he encountered a gust of wind from the right. The tail of the airplane moved to the left, the left wing impacted the ground and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The wind reported from a nearby weather station were 180 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 14 knots about the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was landing runway 12. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, he encountered a gust of wind from the right. The tail of the airplane moved to the left, the left wing impacted the ground and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Winds reported from a nearby weather station were 180 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 14 knots about the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was landing runway 12. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185DK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185DK-2021-12-17), registration cancelled 2021-12-17, S/N 18503808, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503808 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6947 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2015 - Departed: 2R5, ST ELMO, AL - Destination: 4R9, Dauphin Island, AL - Airport: 4R9, Dauphin Island, runway 12, 3,000 × 80 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 960 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KJKA, 24 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 20150711012939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150711012939A), Jul 11, 2015: Cessna A185F, Dauphin Island, AL, Substantial damage. 07/11/2015: Around 4:00 pm CST (2100 z), during landing on runway 12 of the Dauphin Island Airport (4R9), pilot stated that a cross wind from LH at touchdown… ## Other investigations on N185DK (2) 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 CEN20CA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA382), Sep 4, 2020: Cessna A185 (N185DK), Bellaire, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB GAA16CA438](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA438), Aug 21, 2016: Cessna A185 (N185DK), Fayetteville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91710. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Left%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.