N1557F – Cessna 185 – 2020-01-17 NTSB Accident Report

On January 17, 2020, a Cessna 185 (N1557F) was involved in an incident near Laytonsville, MD. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of the tailwheel attachment tube during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and the left main landing gear collapsing.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. After two uneventful circuits in the traffic pattern, he aligned the airplane up on runway 8 for another takeoff. As he applied engine power, he used the right rudder to center the airplane on the runway. About 50 ft into the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied right brake and right rudder, however the airplane became "momentarily airborne." He reduced engine power and as the airplane settled back onto the runway, it veered to the right. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane by applying the brakes, however, it continued off the right side of the runway, traveled through mud, and subsequently the left main landing gear collapsed.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA091. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1557F.