OTHELLO, WA, USA
N50AU
Cessna A185E
As the pilot started turning final on runway 25, he noted a little drift to the right, but he said he straightened out easily and flew straight on touchdown. The aircraft was still flying straight as it was slowing down, when a gust of wind weathercocked the airplane toward the left. The airplane left the runway heading towards a hay field, but before reaching the field, the right landing gear hit a concrete drain inspection pipe, separating the landing gear. The right wing tip struck the ground, turning the aircraft to the right.
On May 21, 1999, approximately 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N50AU, sustained substantial damage during a ground-loop after landing on runway 25 at Othello, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured during this personal flight from Pasco, Washington. There was no flight plan filed for the flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no report of an ELT actuating. The pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind during the landing roll and the airplane ground-looped, damaging the right landing gear and the right wing struck the ground. He stated that "As I started turning final on runway 25 there was a little drift to the right, but I straightened out easily and I flew straight on touchdown. The aircraft was still flying straight as I was slowing down when all of a sudden a gust of wind came and weathervaned me toward the left . I left the runway heading towards a hay field, but before I got to the field the right landing gear hit a concrete drain inspection pipe. This sheared the landing gear off, which caused the right wing to hit the ground, turning the aircraft to the right stopping the plane."
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions after landing. Factors include gusty winds.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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