# NTSB LAX04LA131: Cessna 185F, N4836Q, Mesa, AZ, February 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 13, 2004, 14:26 local (21:26 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460834, -111.728332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA131 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. A factor in this accident was the pilot's diverted attention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane ground looped during landing and swerved off the runway. During the landing rollout while practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, the pilot looked down to set the trim. When he looked up, the airplane was turning right, and the left wing tip was almost touching the ground. The airplane then veered off the runway, and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot reported that no mechanical problems were experienced with the airplane. The pilot's total flying experience was about 265 hours, with the majority of the flight time in conventional gear airplanes. He had approximately 7 hours of flight time in this make and model of airplane, accumulating 2 hours of flight time in the last thirty days. To prevent similar accidents, the pilot recommended "not looking down, and flying the airplane until it stops." About the time of the accident, the 90-degree right crosswind component was approximately 8 knots. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2004, at 1426 mountain standard time, a Cessna 185F, N4836Q, ground looped during the landing roll and departed the runway at the Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, about 1300. The pilot reported that the mishap occurred while he was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 22R. During his fifth or sixth landing rollout, as the groundspeed decreased to 10 miles per hour, the pilot looked down to set the trim. When he looked up, the airplane was turning right, and the left wing tip was "almost" touching the ground. The airplane then veered off the runway and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot reported that no mechanical problems were experienced with the airplane. The pilot stated that his total flying experience was about 264 hours, with the majority of the flight time in conventional gear airplanes. He had approximately 7 hours of flight time in this make and model of airplane, accumulating 2 hours in the last thirty days. To prevent similar accidents, the pilot recommended "not looking down, and flying the airplane until it stops." According to the pilot, at the time of the accident the surface wind was from 310 degrees at 8 knots. The winds reported by the Falcon Field Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at 1451 were from 300 at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4836Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4836Q), registered now, S/N 18503561, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - 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: 18503561 - Airframe hours: 8600 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Golder - Registered owner: Michael Golder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22R, 3,801 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 10, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 264 total, 7 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: FZZ ## 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 20040213001519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040213001519A), Feb 13, 2004: Cessna A185F, Mesa, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) Mr. Golder, pilot-in-command of N4836Q, a Cessna 185 was conducting touch-and-go's to runway 22R at Mesa Falcon field (ffz). During investigation, Mr.… ## Other investigations on N4836Q (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW89LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA072), Mar 24, 1989: Cessna A185F (N4836Q), Lake Arthur, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID TREE LIMBS THAT EXTENDED OVER THE EDGE OF THE CANAL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TREE LIMBS AND DIRT BANK NEAR THE EDGE OF THE SELECTED LANDING… 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.