# NTSB WPR09CA252: Cessna 185E, N70083, Tacoma, WA, May 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2009, 08:47 local (15:47 UTC) - Place: Tacoma, WA - Coordinates: 47.268054, -122.578056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2681&lon=-122.5781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73874/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73874 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after performing a wheel landing on Runway 17, the tailwheel-equipped airplane initially tracked straight along the runway centerline. During the landing roll, the airplane started to veer to the right. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and ground looped. The airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude on the right side of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wings were structurally damaged. The weather reporting station located at the airport reported wind from 220 degrees at 8 knots six minutes after the time of the accident. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control system prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that after performing a wheel landing on Runway 17, the tailwheel-equipped airplane initially tracked straight along the runway centerline. During the landing roll, the airplane started to veer to the right. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right and ground looped. The airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude on the right side of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wings were structurally damaged. The weather reporting station located at the airport reported wind from 220 degrees at 8 knots six minutes after the time of the accident. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's flight control system prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70083](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70083), registered now, S/N 18501950, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18501950 - Airframe hours: 7663 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Air Rainier, Inc - Registered owner: Air Rainier, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2008, 54 hours before - Departed: CLM, Port Angeles, WA - Destination: TIW, Tacoma, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, runway 17, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 11,028 total, 390 in this make and model, 10,860 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Observed at: TIW ## 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 20090518006459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090518006459A), May 18, 2009: Cessna A185E, Tacoma, WA, Substantial damage. During roll out after landing at Tacoma Narrows Airport (tiw) the pilot of the CE-185 tailwheel aircraft lost control of the aircraft. The left wingtip struck… ## Other investigations on N70083 (2) 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 FTW84LA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA052), Nov 12, 1983: Cessna A185E (N70083), El Paso, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB IAD79DKW16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DKW16), Jul 5, 1979: Cessna A185 (N70083), Elizabethton, TN, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73874. 419 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.