# NTSB SEA03LA171: Cessna 185, N185LC, Emmett, ID, August 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2003, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Emmett, ID - Coordinates: 43.849723, -116.542778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8497&lon=-116.5428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Boise FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57713/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for a quartering tailwind during the initial part of the landing roll, and his failure to adequately decrease his brake applications to compensate for the tailwind conditions. Factors include, variable, gusting winds, and a tailwind during the landing roll.. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who was operating his tailwheel-equipped aircraft in variable gusting winds, had completed one touch-and-go landing, and was on the landing roll of his second. Soon after touchdown, the aircraft encountered a right quartering tailwind that pushed it toward the left side of the runway. As part of his attempt to maintain directional control while he brought the aircraft to a stop in the tailwind conditions, the pilot applied differential braking. During this sequence of events, the pilot failed to reduce his level of brake application to a level that would compensate for the effects of the tailwind, and therefore the aircraft nosed over on the runway surface. According to the pilot, there did not seem to be anything wrong with the aircraft's brakes or flight controls. According to the pilot, without the effects of the tailwind, the aircraft probably would not have nosed over. In the recommendation section of the pilot report that he submitted to the NTSB, the pilot wrote, "Don't try to land with quartering tailwind." ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2003, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 185, N185LC, nosed over during the landing roll at Sawyer Field, Emmett, Idaho. The airline transport pilot and one of his passengers were not injured, but a second passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was in the VFR traffic pattern at Sawyer Field, 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, who was operating his tailwheel-equipped aircraft in variable gusting winds, he had completed one touch-and-go landing at Emmett, and was on the landing roll of his second. Soon after touchdown, the aircraft encountered a right quartering tailwind that pushed it toward the left side of the runway. As part of his attempt to maintain directional control while he brought the aircraft to a stop in the tailwind conditions, the pilot applied differential braking. During this sequence of events, the aircraft nosed over on the runway surface. According to the pilot, there did not seem to be anything wrong with the aircraft's brakes or flight controls, and without the effects of the tailwind, the aircraft probably would not have nosed over. In the recommendation section of the pilot report that he submitted to the NTSB, the pilot wrote, "Don't try to land with quartering tailwind." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185LC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185LC), registered now, S/N 18502014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502014 - Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald R. Cobb - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2003 - Departed: S78, Emmett, ID - Destination: S78, Emmett, ID - Airport: S78, Emmett Municipal, runway 28, 3,250 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 15, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 20030817020299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030817020299A), Aug 17, 2003: Cessna A185E, Emmett, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) During second touch and go at Emmett, Idaho airport, runway 28, pilot stated the aircraft swerved left of runway centerline. He corrected by applying… ## Other investigations on N185LC (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 WPR17LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA162), Jul 11, 2017: Cessna A185E (N185LC), Nampa, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel airplane during the landing roll. 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.