Cessna A185 N123LR

Summary

On 17 September 2017 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N123LR was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 4 people were 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

17 September 2017 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.2761, -150.9800

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N123LR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chugiak → Talkeetna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA539

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind 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 landing, after a stabilized approach, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear (MLG) first for a wheel landing. The airplane bounced twice, and shortly before the tail settled on the ground, the "crosswind increased causing the aircraft to weathervane to the left." He added that he increased left aileron and right rudder to keep the airplane on the gravel airstrip; however, the "wind gust then all but stopped as the tailwheel settled to the ground causing the aircraft to turn rapidly to the right." He further added that he increased left rudder and brake, but the MLG started to depart the gravel airstrip and enter the softer shoulder. The "tail swung to the left of the aircraft direction of travel," and he was unable to correct the continued tightening right turn. Subsequently, the airplane rolled onto the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer and came to rest on the MLG. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind at the accident site, about the time of the accident, as variable, gusting to 10 knots. The pilot landed to the northeast.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.