# NTSB SEA04LA087: Cessna 185A, N1624H, Polson, MT, May 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2004, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Polson, MT - Coordinates: 47.695278, -114.185836 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6953&lon=-114.1858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59248 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59248/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the changing wind conditions at the time of the landing. Factors include gusty, variable, crosswinds, and a runway marker near the edge of the runway the pilot was landing on. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) ## Analysis On the day of the accident, the pilot was performing a series of touch-and-go landings in variable gusty wind conditions in order to "...maintain proficiency on a gusty day." After three successful touch-and-go landings, he pilot decided to make the next landing a full-stop termination of the flight. During the subject landing, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind, and although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft suddenly started turning toward the side of the runway. Although the pilot applied control inputs in an attempt to keep the aircraft on the runway, his inputs were not adequate to overcome the effects of the varying wind conditions, and therefore the aircraft departed the side of the runway. The pilot then added full power in order to regain control and execute a go-around. During that sequence of events, the aircraft's left wing contacted the ground and the left horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway marker. The pilot was then able to complete the go-around, whereupon he flew a normal traffic pattern and retuned for a subsequent full-stop landing. He discovered the damage to the airframe after taxiing to his hanger and shutting the aircraft down. There was no evidence of any anomaly in the flight control or wheel brake systems. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2004, approximately 0945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 185A, N1624H, impacted a runway marker during a go-around from a planned full-stop landing at Polson Airport, Polson, Montana. The private 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 pleasure flight, which originated at the Polson Airport about 15 minuets earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT transmission. According to the pilot, he was performing a series of touch-and-go landings in variable gusty wind conditions in order to "...maintain proficiency on a gusty day." After three successful touch-and-go landings, the pilot decided to make the next landing a full-stop termination of the flight. During the subject landing, the wind shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind, and although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft suddenly started turning toward the side of the runway. Although the pilot applied control inputs in an attempt to keep the aircraft on the runway, he was unable to overcome the effects of the varying wind conditions, and the aircraft departed the side of the runway. He therefore added full power in order to regain control and execute a go-around. During that sequence of events the left wing contacted the ground and the left horizontal stabilizer impacted a runway marker. The pilot was then able to complete the go-around, whereupon he flew a normal traffic pattern and retuned for a subsequent full-stop landing. He discovered the damage to the airframe after taxiing to his hanger and shutting the aircraft down. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, there was no evidence of any anomaly in the flight control or wheel braking systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1624H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1624H), registered now, S/N 18503317, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185A - 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: 03317 - Airframe hours: 1530 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 320 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jack H. Konitz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2004, 30 hours before - Departed: 8S1, Polson, MS - Destination: 8S1 - Airport: 8S1, Polson Airport, runway 36, 4,195 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 9, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 317 total, 28 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °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 20040516010099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040516010099A), May 16, 2004: Cessna A185F, Polson, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that on 5/16/04 he was practicing landings on rwy 36 at Polson, MT. He stated that on the 4th crosswind landing the "wind shifted to a… 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.