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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 18, 2005 · Cessna A185E · N4557F

Wasilla, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 18, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Wasilla, AK
Aircraft
Cessna A185E
Tail Number
N4557F
Operator
James Kincaid
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC05CA060

The certificated flight instructor pilot was giving landing instruction to a private pilot prior to administering a biennial flight review. The flight instructor reported that during the accident landing, with the private pilot operating the controls, the airplane swung to the right, and with full left brake applied, the airplane still continued to the right. The instructor said he took control of the airplane, and intentionally applied the right brake and ground-looped the airplane to prevent it from exiting the runway and encountering a ditch. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's failure to provide adequate supervision of the second pilot during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and an intentional ground-loop by the instructor. A factor in the accident was the dual student's ( a certificated private pilot) loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Full Narrative

On April 17, 2005, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N4557F, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during the landing roll at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the flight instructor as a visual flight rules (VFR) local instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight instructor (first pilot) and the certificated private pilot (second pilot), were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 18, the first pilot said he was giving instruction to the second pilot prior to administering a biennial flight review. He said during the accident landing, the second pilot lost directional control, and he took control and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent a runway excursion. The first pilot said the airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. In a written statement to the NTSB dated May 2, the first pilot wrote that the wind speed may have picked up, or the wind direction may have changed to more of a direct crosswind. He reported the winds as 220 degrees magnetic at 6-9 knots with gusts to 12 knots. He wrote that upon touchdown on runway 21, the airplane swung to the right, and that even with application of full left brake, the airplane continued to the right. He said he applied right brake and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent it from exiting the runway and encountering a ditch.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A185E
Tail NumberN4557F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames Kincaid
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520D · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · None
Crew 2None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data