# NTSB SEA03LA122: Cessna 185F, N6497E, Lexington, OR, June 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2003, 18:00 local (Jun 26, 2003, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Lexington, OR - Coordinates: 45.4575, -119.690277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4575&lon=-119.6903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. A partially deflated tire and soft terrain were factors. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,tire - deflated (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after performing two or three touch-and-go landings, he departed the airport to practice aerial proficiency maneuvers. Upon his return, he made a wheel landing, and although the touchdown and the initial part of the landing roll were uneventful, just as he was starting to lower the tail the aircraft started pulling to the left. He therefore attempted to realign the aircraft with the runway by using right rudder and additional breaking on the right wheel but, according to the pilot, he overcorrected and inadvertently redirected the aircraft toward the right side of the runway. As he continued trying to get the aircraft aligned with the runway, it departed the right side of the landing surface. As the right main gear departed the runway, it encountered soft terrain, and the aircraft spun quickly around to the right. During this sequence of events, the left wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface of the ground. The pilot later stated that he thought he may have had a partially deflated or flat tire on the left main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2003, approximately 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N6497E, impacted the terrain during the landing roll at Lexington Airport, Lexington, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal proficiency flight, which departed the same airport about 40 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, after performing two or three touch-and-go landings, he departed the airport to practice aerial proficiency maneuvers. Upon his return, he made a wheel landing on runway 26, and although the touchdown and the initial part of the landing roll were uneventful, just as he was starting to lower the tail, the aircraft started pulling to the left. He therefore attempted to realign the aircraft with the runway by using right rudder and additional breaking on the right wheel but, according to the pilot, he overcorrected and inadvertently redirected the aircraft toward the right side of the runway. As he continued trying to get the aircraft aligned with the runway, it departed the right side of the landing surface. As the right main gear departed the runway, it encountered soft terrain, and the aircraft spun quickly around to the right. During this sequence of events, the left wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface of the ground. The pilot later stated that he thought he may have had a partially deflated or flat tire on the left main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6497E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6497E), registered now, S/N 18504050, built 1980 (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: 18504050 - Airframe hours: 4292 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D30 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guy E. Vanarsdale - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: 9S9, Lexington, OR - Destination: 9S9 - Airport: 9S9, Lexington, runway 26, 4,150 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 18, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 6,033 total, 600 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F ## 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 20030625014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030625014339A), Jun 25, 2003: Cessna A185F, Lexington, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) The PIC was practicing touch-and-go landings to ready himself for an FAR 135 flight checkride. The PIC departed the Lexington Airport and flew out to a… ## Other investigations on N6497E (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 SEA07CA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA274), Sep 26, 2007: Cessna A185F (N6497E), Lexington, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. 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.