SEA00LA147

The pilot entered a downwind for runway 31 and noted calm winds from a nearby smoke stack and the midfield windsock. He established the aircraft on short final with three notches of flaps and 65 knots of airspeed for a three-point landing. Touchdown on the main wheels occurred just slightly before the tailwheel touchdown. Once on the runway, the pilot applied full aft elevator, raised the manually operated flaps, and applied light braking during which the aircraft suddenly veered left. The pilot reported that rudder control was inadequate, and that applying power worsened the yaw. He then retarded the throttle to idle, applied full up elevator, hard right rudder and hard braking, during which the aircraft continued to yaw left and eventually impacted the right wingtip. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event.

On July 28, 2000, approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N7485C, registered to Aero Management Group, LLC, and being flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on landing at Tillamook airport, Tillamook, Oregon. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Hillsboro, Oregon, approximately 1115.

The pilot was telephonically interviewed and subsequently submitted a statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (attached) reporting that he departed Hillsboro, Oregon, en route to Tillamook, Oregon. Upon arrival in the Tillamook area he entered a downwind for runway 31, and noted the smoke trail from a nearby sawmill north of the airport ascending vertically indicating negligible winds. After entering downwind, he ascertained calm wind conditions from the mid-field windsock.

He reported that he flew a normal approach selecting "three notches" of flaps and slowing to 65 knots on short final for a three-point landing. The pilot further reported, "Touchdown was on [the] mains, just slightly before [the] tailwheel. With [the] control yoke full back, [the] aircraft on all three gear, light braking was applied and flaps retracted. [The] aircraft suddenly veered left. Rudder control was inadequate to counteract. [An] attempt to add power worsened [the] yaw so [the] engine was pulled to idle cut-off. With full up elevator, hard right rudder, and hard braking, [the] aircraft continued to yaw left, skidded on [the] right main, rolled right onto [the] wingtip and slid 20 - 30 feet before pitching forward onto [the] nose. [The] aircraft slid on [its] nose & main gear 2 feet before tipping onto [the] left wingtip and coming to rest on [the] left side of 31."

The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event. The aircraft was equipped with manually operated flaps.