GAA16CA459

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna A185 · Gooding, ID · August 30, 2016

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 30, 2016, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
Place
Gooding, ID
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N185TJCessna A185
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 5, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20160830015539A
Case key
93929

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 landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

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.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna A185E: 18 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna A185E: 18 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: gustsEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationCessna A185E: 6 casesAll aircraft: 1,199 cases
Terrain: rough terrainEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcomeCessna A185E: 1 caseAll aircraft: 442 cases

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 reported that during the landing roll in variable gusting wind conditions, the tailwheel equipped airplane started an uncontrolled left turn, and he applied throttle to regain directional control with no effect. The pilot further reported that the airplane exited the runway to the left, became airborne and rolled left, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in variable gusting wind conditions, the tailwheel equipped airplane started an uncontrolled left turn, and he applied throttle to regain directional control with no effect. The pilot further reported that the airplane exited the runway to the left, became airborne and rolled left, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N185TJ
Reported as
Cessna A185 (E)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
185-1532
Built
1969
Airframe hours
2,566.8
Engine
Continental IO-550-D1B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 31, 2015
Departed
GNG · Gooding, ID
Destination
GNG · Gooding, ID
Airport
GNG · Gooding Muni, runway 7, 4,745 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
73
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 15, 2015
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
735 total · 375 in this make and model · 735 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KJER, 18 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.2 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.