Cessna A185 N7711L

Summary

On 4 May 2019 at about 18:40 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N7711L was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, 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

4 May 2019 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Porter County Rgnl (VPZ)

Coordinates

41.4539, -87.0069

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N7711L

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

Valparaiso → Valparaiso

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA244

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper throttle application and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll in gusting left crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

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 he was performing stop-and-go takeoffs and landings. During a takeoff roll, the tailwheel lifted off the ground, and the airplane encountered a significant wind from the left. He applied left aileron and right rudder to compensate for the wind, but the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that a "slower application of the throttle and keeping the tailwheel on the ground longer during the takeoff roll, will prevent this type of accident from occurring in the future."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.