Cessna A185 N185FF

Summary

On 31 May 2017 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N185FF was involved in an accident near Clovis, New Mexico, 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

31 May 2017 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Clovis, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Clovis Muni (CVN)

Coordinates

34.4269, -103.0794

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N185FF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Portales → Clovis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA313

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, as the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane "violently yawed" to the left. He added that he immediately applied full left aileron and full right rudder control inputs; however, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 150° at 11 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot landed on runway 22.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.