# NTSB NYC00LA077: Cessna 185, N8425Q, Saratoga Sprngs, NY, February 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2000, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Saratoga Sprngs, NY - Coordinates: 43.060592, -73.769363 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0606&lon=-73.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48688/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis The airplane touched down under calm wind conditions, with the left wing down. The left wheel rim fractured, and the wheel came off the rim, but the airplane veered off the runway to the right. It hit a snow bank, and flipped up, and onto its nose. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2000, about 1300 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 185, N8425Q, was substantially damaged during a landing at Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Saratoga Springs, New York. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's written statement, the winds were calm, flaps were fully extended, and airspeed was 75 knots indicated. The flare was started "at about the numbers and touchdown was a smooth three point with the stall horn. There was a slight movement to the left." The landing rollout was being maintained on the centerline, "when suddenly the plane turned to the right and the left wing tip dropped." The airplane did not respond to control inputs, and continued to the right, striking the snow bank at the edge of the runway at an angle between 45 and 90 degrees. "The plane flipped up and over the bank coming to land on its nose, perpendicular to the ground." The pilot further stated that upon inspection of the runway, there was a "straight rubber scuff" to the left of centerline, "maybe 200-250 feet long, that then turned to the right and into the snow bank over a distance of about 40 feet. The scrape of the wingtip was parallel on the outside [of] the left tire mark." The left tire was found to be off the wheel and around the main strut. The Federal Aviation Administration's party representative stated that the left wheel rim had fractured, and that in a subsequent conversation with the pilot, the pilot revealed that the landing had been accomplished "with the right wheel up in the air." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8425Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8425Q), registered now, S/N 18503695, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - 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: 18503695 - Airframe hours: 1076 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David G. Lapointe - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1999, 26 hours before - Departed: 5B2 - Airport: 5B2, Saratoga County, runway 23, 4,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 349 total, 31 in this make and model, 209 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 20 nm away ## 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 20000212035409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000212035409A), Feb 12, 2000: Cessna A185F, Saratoga Spring, NY, Substantial damage. (.4)The airplane touched down under calm wind conditions, with the left wing down. The left wheel rim fractured, and the wheel came off the rim, but the… 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.