N721

On February 7, 2000, approximately 1215 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N721, owned and operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport, Loveland, Colorado. The commercial certificated first pilot and the commercial certificated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the public use instructional flight, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Broomfield, Colorado, approximately 1030.

According to the accident report submitted, the flight instructor, seated in the right seat, had been giving the commercial (first) pilot, seated in the left seat, a biennial flight review (BFR) to satisfy the requirements of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 61.56(c). At the conclusion of the BFR, it was agreed that the flight instructor would make a full stop landing (it was later learned the instructor was not current in aircraft category and class).

A normal approach to runway 15 was flown in a "moderate" right crosswind (5 to 10 knot, variable). A full stall landing was made with a slight crab into the crosswind. The tail wheel touched down first, followed by the main gear. The airplane then veered right and ground looped. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to a halt off the right side of runway 15.