# NTSB WPR19LA134: Cessna A185, N185FT, Kalispell, MT, May 4, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 4, 2019, 11:46 local (17:46 UTC) - Place: Kalispell, MT - Coordinates: 48.310554, -114.256111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3106&lon=-114.2561&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99386/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99386 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA134 ## Probable cause The loss of directional control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and his pilot-rated passenger conducted a landing on a turf airstrip when the airplane pulled to the right as it slowed. The pilot was able to make a full stop landing and taxi back to take off. The takeoff was uneventful, so he remained in the airport area for another landing. During that landing, the airplane pulled hard to the right as it slowed. The pilot initiated a balked landing and returned to the original departure airport. During the final landing the airplane touched down on centerline for what initially appeared to be a normal landing. However, shortly after landing the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the tailwheel equipped airplane and it veered off the right side of the runway, despite the pilot's attempt to correct back to the left with left rudder and braking. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the tailwheel did not turn to the left properly; however, it could not be determined if the anomaly existed before the accident or if it resulted from the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2019, about 1146 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N185FT, sustained substantial when it was involved in an accident at Glacier Park International Airport (GPI), Kalispell, Montana. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to the pilot, while landing at Ferndale Airport (53U), Bigfork, Montana, in light and variable wind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped airplane pulled to the right as it slowed. He accomplished a full stop landing and taxied back to take off. The pilot stated that the takeoff was uneventful, and he remained at 53U for another landing pattern. During the second landing, the airplane pulled hard to the right as it slowed, which prompted the pilot to initiate a balked landing; he elected to return to GPI where the flight had originated earlier that day. The pilot stated that the wind was reported at 210° magnetic at 5 knots at GPI. The landing on runway 20 was normal, on centerline, and with the tailwheel lock engaged. However, shortly after touching down, he lost control of the airplane, and it veered off the right side of the runway, despite his left rudder inputs. The pilot believed there was an issue with the tailwheel. He stated that the airplane came to rest about halfway down and 10 ft off the edge of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was further examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic under the oversight of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The tailwheel and flight control system, including the rudder system, were examined. It was noted the tailwheel would turn right freely and “break free” normally. The tailwheel would only turn left about 15° and would not break free. It could not be determined if the anomaly with the tailwheel was present before the accident or resulted from the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185FT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185FT), registered now, S/N 18503329, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - 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: 18503329 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 2117.7 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D-4 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 2018 - Departed: 53U, Bigfork, MT - Destination: GPI, Kalispell, MT - Airport: GPI, Glacier Park Intl, runway 20, 9,007 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 24,376 total, 3,510 in this make and model, 18,810 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: unknown; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: GPI ## 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 20190504003899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190504003899A), May 4, 2019: Cessna A185F, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. On may 4, 2019 at 1140 MST, a Cessna 185, ground looped on landing at Kalispell international airport(gpi). Visual flight rules existed. The aircraft was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99386. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8792624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20AN_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of converation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8793521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20WPR19LA134-Rel.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.