# NTSB GAA17CA041: Cessna A185, N7565H, Anchorage, AK, October 20, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 20, 2016, 10:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.215831, -149.852493 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2158&lon=-149.8525&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll the airplane started to veer to the right, he attempted to correct with left rudder, which resulted in a ground loop to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator. 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 of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll the airplane started to veer to the right, he attempted to correct with left rudder, which resulted in a ground loop to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator. 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: [N7565H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7565H), registered now, S/N 18503398, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185 (F) - 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: 18503398 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 2070 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D15 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2016 - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 25, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,859 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20161020021939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161020021939A), Oct 20, 2016: Cessna A185F, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. After landing, the aircraft pulled to the left. Pilot attempted to correct to the right and over-compensated. The aircraft ground-looped and the right wingtip… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94274. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.