# NTSB LAX98LA268: Cessna 185, N8482D, Susanville, CA, August 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1998, 17:30 local (Aug 17, 1998, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Susanville, CA - Coordinates: 40.570053, -120.609664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5701&lon=-120.6097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43731/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 300 feet into the takeoff roll on runway 29 and approximately 30 mph, he felt a strong wind gust from his left side and was unable to maintain the aircraft heading with full right rudder and right brake. The aircraft ground looped and came to rest on the runway about 120 degrees from its initial heading. The right main landing gear collapsed, and there was damage to the right wing, right stabilizer, and elevator. The winds were reported as 240 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 21 knots. A witness on the airport said that the winds were 'unpredictably gusty' at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to takeoff, but stated that he 'could have made a more accurate estimate of [the] severity of gusts and not attempted the takeoff.' ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1998, at 1730 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185, N8482D, ground looped during takeoff on runway 29 at the Susanville, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. The local area personal flight was originating at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that about 300 feet down the runway and approximately 30 mph, he felt a strong wind gust from the left side and was unable to maintain the aircraft heading with full right rudder and right brake. The aircraft ground looped and came to rest on the runway 120 degrees from its initial heading. The right main landing gear collapsed, and there was damage to the right wing, right stabilizer, and elevator. The winds were reported as 240 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 21 knots. A witness on the airport said that the winds were "unpredictably gusty" at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to takeoff, but stated that he "could have made a more accurate estimate of [the] severity of gusts and not attempted the takeoff." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8482D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8482D), registered now, S/N 185-1370, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - 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: 185-1370 - Airframe hours: 2359 - Engines: Lycoming IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred Peters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: SVE, CA - Destination: 203, ANGWIN, CA - Airport: SVE, Susanville Municipal, runway 29, 4,050 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,200 total, 450 in this make and model, 3,100 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO ## 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 19980816021129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980816021129A), Aug 16, 1998: Cessna A185E, Susanville, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of the acft on takeoff, and the acft ground looped. (-23) while attempting a takeoff from runway 29 at Susanville, CA the commercial pilot… 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.