Cessna A185 N873SL

Summary

On 7 May 2017 at about 14:10 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N873SL was involved in an accident near Big Rapids, Michigan, 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

7 May 2017 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Rapids, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Roben-Hood (RQB)

Coordinates

43.7228, -85.5042

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N873SL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sparta → Sparta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA271

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to obtain updated weather information while practicing takeoffs and landings and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-gear-equipped airplane reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings and had accomplished a wheel landing on runway 27. During the landing roll, the tailwheel contacted the ground, and the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right. The pilot recalled that the right aileron was into the wind with left rudder and no power applied. The right wing rose, and the airplane began to weathervane. He added full engine power and full left rudder. The "right main" descended back to the ground, but the airplane exited the runway to the right. The airplane encountered a berm and became airborne. The airplane descended to the ground and spun about its nose to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and the left main landing gear attachment points. The pilot reported that, when he checked the weather before he began practicing takeoffs and landings, the wind was from 320° at 10 knots but, about the time of the accident, the METAR reported that wind was from 350° at 15 knots gusting to 22 knots. The crosswind component was 18 knots. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot remarked that the accident could have been prevented by setting "personal limitations" and by checking the Automatic Terminal Information System "every two pattern practices." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.