Cessna 195 N9818A

Summary

On 4 June 2015 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 195 registered N9818A, operated by Tesco Inc., was involved in an accident near Lancaster, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 June 2015 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lancaster, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Buffalo-Lancaster Rgnl (BQR)

Coordinates

42.9219, -78.6131

Aircraft

Cessna 195

Registration

N9818A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1950

Engines

1

Operator

Tesco Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA118

Nobody was injured.

A loss of directional control and subsequent ground loop due to an underinflated right tire, which was a result of foreign object debris puncturing the tire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, an annual inspection was completed on the airplane the day prior to this flight, so he planned to remain in the traffic pattern. During the first landing after touchdown, the pilot reported that the airplane began drifting to the right. He attempted to correct with the left rudder and brake, but once the tailwheel touched down the airplane quickly veered to the right, departed the runway, and ground looped. After the ground loop, the airplane stopped and the pilot shutdown the airplane without further incident.  During a post-flight examination, the pilot stated that the right main tire was one half to three quarters underinflated. After further inspection, the pilot identified a small metal object that resembled a finishing nail in the right main tire and within one hour of the accident, the tire was completely flat. The pilot reported that both tires and associated pressures were checked and verified according to the airplane maintenance manual prior to flight. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations, with the exception of the right main tire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.