# NTSB WPR17LA162: Cessna A185E, N185LC, Nampa, ID, July 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 2017, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.58139, -116.523056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5814&lon=-116.5231&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 December 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95649/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95649 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA162 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel airplane during the landing roll. ## 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: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that, during the landing roll in the tailwheel airplane, he was unable to maintain directional control after encountering a quartering tailwind gust from the right. The airplane subsequently ground looped, causing substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the tailwheel assembly, rudder, or control continuity to the rudder that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2017, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N185LC, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll at Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight. The flight departed Kooskia Municipal Airport, Kooskia, Idaho, about 1345 Pacific daylight time. According to the pilot, during landing on runway 29, he was unable to maintain directional control of the tail-wheeled airplane after encountering a quartering tailwind gust from the right. The airplane subsequently ground looped and the left wing sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the reported wind was from 350° magnetic at 11 knots, which calculated to a 10 knot, right crosswind. The pilot reported that he did not listen to the airport's automated weather observing system report, prior to landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane, by a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies with the tail wheel assembly, rudder, or control continuity with the rudder that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185LC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185LC), registered now, S/N 18502014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E (E) - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18502014 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2502 - Engines: Continental IO-520_D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 15, 2016 - Departed: S82, KOOSKIA, ID - Destination: MAN, Nampa, ID - Airport: MAN, Nampa Muni, runway 29, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,000 total, 75 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: MAN ## 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 20170711009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170711009039A), Jul 11, 2017: Cessna A185E, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot departed harvey field (S43) snohomish, WA to Nampa Municipal Airport (kman) in Nampa, ID. Pilot stated that on departure out of S43 the aircraft seemed… ## 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 SEA03LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA171), Aug 17, 2003: Cessna 185 (N185LC), Emmett, ID, substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95649. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.