Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop by the pilot. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusting crosswind condition.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On August 25, 2006, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N4730Q, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane ground-looped during landing at Miller Field Airport, Valentine, Nebraska. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured.
The pilot reported that she performed a "wheel landing" on runway 32 (4,700 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) and that after landing the airplane began to drift to the right. When the tail wheel contacted the runway she reported that the "right wheel dropped off of some uneven pavement". The pilot then applied the left brake and the airplane subsequently ground looped.
Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: wind 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI06LA255