- Date
- July 18, 2010, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N619VMCessna A185F
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20100718038909A
- Case key
- 76762
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind gust during the landing roll.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While on final approach to the destination runway, the pilot noted that the windsock indicated a variable crosswind. The airplane touched down normally, in a tail-low configuration with the upwind-wing lowered to accommodate the crosswind. As the airplane was on the landing roll it passed by a hangar, where the pilot maneuvered the controls to adjust for the sudden no-wind condition. Just prior to the tailwheel making contact with the runway surface, the airplane passed a gap between two hangars and correspondingly encountered a gusty crosswind. The airplane partially ground-looped, with the right wing contacting the surface. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the airport, issued around the time of the accident, reported winds from 230 degrees at 03 knots.
Factual narrative
In a written statement, the pilot reported that while on final approach to the destination runway, he noted the windsock indicating a variable crosswind. The airplane touched down normally, in a tail-low configuration with the upwind-wing lowered to accommodate the crosswind. As the airplane was on the landing roll it passed by a hangar, where the pilot maneuvered the controls to adjust for the sudden no-wind condition. Just prior to the tail wheel making contact with the runway surface, the airplane passed a gap between two hangars and correspondingly encountered a gusty crosswind. The airplane partially ground-looped, with the right wing contacting the surface. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. As a result of the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the right wing. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the airport, issued around the time of the accident, reported winds from 230 degrees at 03 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N619VM
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18504284
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- James Causey, doing business as Simimed Inc
- Registered owner
- Simimed Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KMYL · McCall, ID
- Destination
- KCOE · Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Airport
- KCOE · Coeur d'Alene-Pappy Boyington, runway 19, 5,400 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,355 total · 740 in this make and model · 12 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
- Observed at
- KCOE
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 117 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.