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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 12, 2005 · Cessna 185F · N58316

Bettles, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Bettles, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Tail Number
N58316
Operator
Brooks Range Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC05CA141

The airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand passenger flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot said he flew over the airstrip, and the wind sock indicated a strong right crosswind. As the airplane slowed during the landing roll, he said he lost rudder authority, and the airplane ground-looped to the right. He said the left wing received structural damage when it struck the runway following the collapse of the main landing gear. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a loss of control and an inadvertent ground-loop during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the ground-loop and gusts.

Full Narrative

On September 11, 2005, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185F airplane, N58316, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll, and subsequent ground-loop at the Prospect Creek Airstrip, 25 miles east of Bettles, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Jespersen Aircraft Services, doing business as Brooks Range Aviation, Bettles, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Bettles Airport, Bettles, about 2015. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 12, the pilot said that during landing he noted that there was a strong crosswind from the right. He said after touching down, as the airplane slowed, he lost rudder authority, and the airplane ground-looped to the right. He said the left wing was structurally damaged when the left main landing gear collapsed during the ground-loop. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:25 AKDT
Nearest AirportProspect Creek (0nm)
Runway36
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185F
Tail NumberN58316
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBrooks Range Aviation
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520D · Reciprocating · 300

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 45 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data