# NTSB GAA19CA260: Cessna A185, N2429E, Northway, AK, May 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 12, 2019, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Northway, AK - Coordinates: 62.961112, -141.928054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9611&lon=-141.9281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99420/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99420 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA260 ## 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 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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072818), [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 A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2429E), registered now, S/N 185-1172, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1172 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20190512011009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190512011009A), May 12, 2019: Cessna A185E, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. On may 12, 2019 at 1232 the pilot landed the Cessna 185 on runway 05 at the Northway Alaska airport (paor). At touchdown the pilot immediately felt the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99420. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 498 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.