- Date
- May 12, 2019, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Northway, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2429ECessna A185
- Defining event
- Landing: 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
- 20190512011009A
- Case key
- 99420
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 subsequent nose-over.
Findings · 2
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, during the landing, the airplane suddenly veered left, ground looped, exited the runway, and nosed over. Examination revealed that the airplane had a blown right tire and that it had sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of photographs of the tire damage provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the damage was consistent with sideloading of the right main landing gear during the ground loop to the left.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing the airplane suddenly veered left, ground looped left, exited the runway and nosed over. Upon further examination the airplane had a blown right tire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Photos of the tire damage provided by the FAA are consistent with sideloading the right main landing gear during a ground loop to the left. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2429E
- Reported as
- Cessna A185 (E)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-1172
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Continental IO 520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2018
- Departed
- CYXY · Whitehorse
- Destination
- ORT · Northway, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- ORT · Northway, runway 05, 5,100 × 100 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
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 10, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 27,000 total · 75 in this make and model · 24,600 as pilot in command · 56 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- PAOR
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 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.