Cessna A185 N185RX

Summary

On 9 May 2017 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N185RX was involved in an accident near Columbia, California, 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

9 May 2017 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Columbia (O22)

Coordinates

38.0286, -120.4136

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N185RX

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Calexico → Columbia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA270

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in tailwind and crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll and while he transitioned from rudder control to brakes, "a gust of wind hit my [the airplane's] tail." The airplane veered off the runway to the left, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 250° at 6 knots. The pilot landed on runway 35.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.