LAX06CA022

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T188C · Beatty, NV · October 29, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 28, 2005, 19:00 local (Oct 29, 2005, 03:00 UTC)
Place
Beatty, NV
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2876JCessna T188C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20051029028249A
Case key
62753

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on the landing roll.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - gusts
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - not correctedPilot in command
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped and the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. As the pilot entered the traffic pattern he made note of the airport's windsock, which indicated a variable 10- to 15-knot wind. When the airplane was about halfway down the length of the runway on the landing roll it encountered a gust of wind. The gust contacted the tail, which resulted in the airplane veering to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted terrain. The airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine.

Factual narrative

The aircraft ground looped and the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll of the tail wheel equipped airplane. After an approximate 1-hour cross-country flight, the pilot entered the vicinity of his destination airport. He made note of the airport's windsock, which indicated a variable 10- to 15-knot wind. After touching down on the runway surface, the airplane began the landing rollout. As the airplane continued about halfway down the length of the runway, a gust of wind was encountered. The gust contacted the tail, which resulted in the airplane veering to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to regain control, but the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted terrain. The airplane came to rest off the right side of the runway. The pilot thought that the accident could have been prevented if he had taken more consideration for the gusty wind conditions. The closest weather reporting station is located about 40 nautical miles east of the accident site. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine.

Aircraft

Registration
N2876J
Reported as
Cessna T188C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
T18803551T
Engine
Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-T1B, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Positioning · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Departed
TPH · Tonopah, NV
Destination
BTY · Beatty, NV
Airport
BTY · Beatty Airport, runway 16, 5,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

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
41
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2
Flight hours
970 total · 15 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 15 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.