# NTSB SEA99LA139: Cessna 188B, N9085R, Sidney, MT, August 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1999, 19:45 local (Aug 9, 1999, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Sidney, MT - Coordinates: 47.750888, -104.280746 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7509&lon=-104.2807&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 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Shortly after departure, the pilot encountered rain showers and thunderstorms and elected to return to the airport. After touchdown, during the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind and became uncontrollable. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and unintentionally ground-looped the aircraft. The weather at the time of the accident, as reported by the pilot, was winds from 280 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 25 knots and rain showers. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1999, about 1945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N9085R, registered to and operated by Sidney Air Service, Incorporated as a 14CFR137 aerial applicator was substantially damaged while landing at Sidney-Richland Airport, Sidney, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local agricultural flight. The commercial pilot was not injured and there was no report of fire or ELT activation. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that shortly after departure from Sidney Airport, he encountered rain showers and thunderstorms and elected to return to the airport. After touchdown, during the landing roll on runway 01, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind. The pilot stated he was unable to maintain directional control and unintentionally ground-looped the aircraft. The aircraft came to rest approximately 30 feet west of runway 01. The aircraft's landing gear, wings, empennage and fuselage were substantially damaged. The weather at the time of the accident, as reported by the pilot, was winds from 280 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 25 knots and rain showers. The pilot also reported that rain showers and thunderstorms were forecasted for the area at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9085R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9085R-2002-12-11), registration cancelled 2002-12-11, S/N 18802106T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802106T - Airframe hours: 5026 - Engines: Continental IO-520 D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Sidney Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 1999, 287 hours before - Departed: SDY - Airport: SDY, Sidney-Richmond County, runway 1, 5,705 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,669 total, 1,222 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 344 in the last 90 days, 132 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 14 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 90 °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 19990808011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990808011259A), Aug 8, 1999: Cessna A188B, Sidney, MT, Substantial damage. (-23)Pilot stated the following: on landing wind changed to 90 crosswind onver 20 knots. Runway was wet from recent rain. Pilot allowed tailwheel to chatter… 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.