- Date
- May 4, 2019, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Valparaiso, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7711LCessna A185
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 3, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190504003879A
- Case key
- 99382
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 improper throttle application and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll in gusting left crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.
Findings · 6
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 the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was performing stop-and-go takeoffs and landings. During a takeoff roll, the tailwheel lifted off the ground, and the airplane encountered a significant wind from the left. He applied left aileron and right rudder to compensate for the wind, but the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that a "slower application of the throttle and keeping the tailwheel on the ground longer during the takeoff roll, will prevent this type of accident from occurring in the future."
Factual narrative
The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he was performing stop and go take offs and landings. During the takeoff roll, the tailwheel came off the ground, and the airplane encountered a significant wind from the left. He applied left aileron, and right rudder to compensate for the wind, but the airplane ground-looped to the left. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the right aileron. The airport's Meteorological Aerodrome Report, about the time of the accident, reported that the wind was from 030° at 8 knots and gusting to 14 knots. Additionally, the wind was reported as variable between 340° and 070°. The airplane took off from runway 9. The pilot added that a, "slower application of the throttle and keeping the tailwheel on the ground longer during the takeoff roll, will prevent this type of accident from occurring in the future."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7711L
- Reported as
- Cessna A185 (E)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-1521
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 3,548
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 23, 2018
- Departed
- VPZ · Valparaiso, IN
- Destination
- VPZ · Valparaiso, IN
- Airport
- VPZ · Porter County Rgnl, runway 09, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 6, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 187 total · 24 in this make and model · 61 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Observed at
- KVPZ
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 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.
Other investigations on N7711L · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.