- Date
- April 9, 2016, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chesterfield, MO
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4095ACessna A185
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 15, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160409003119A
- Case key
- 93106
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 during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and a wing strike.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot further reported that he applied left rudder and brake, but the airplane ground looped to the right and the left wing struck the runway. The left wing and left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observing system at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 080 degrees true at 7 knots, for the landing on runway 26.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot further reported that he applied left rudder and brake, but the airplane ground looped to the right and the left wing struck the runway. The left wing and left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observing system at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 080 degrees true at 7 knots, for the landing on runway 26.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4095A
- Reported as
- Cessna A185 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503910
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 10,404.2
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Earth Angel Aviators Inc.
- Registered owner
- Earth Angel Aviators Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2015
- Departed
- SUS · Chesterfield, MO
- Destination
- SUS · Chesterfield, MO
- Airport
- SUS · Spirit Of St Louis, runway 26L, 7,485 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 31, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 614 total · 242 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 4.1 in the last 90 days · 0.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- KSUS
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.