Bettles, AK, USA
N58316
Cessna 185F
The airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand passenger flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot said he flew over the airstrip, and the wind sock indicated a strong right crosswind. As the airplane slowed during the landing roll, he said he lost rudder authority, and the airplane ground-looped to the right. He said the left wing received structural damage when it struck the runway following the collapse of the main landing gear. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
On September 11, 2005, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185F airplane, N58316, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll, and subsequent ground-loop at the Prospect Creek Airstrip, 25 miles east of Bettles, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Jespersen Aircraft Services, doing business as Brooks Range Aviation, Bettles, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Bettles Airport, Bettles, about 2015. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 12, the pilot said that during landing he noted that there was a strong crosswind from the right. He said after touching down, as the airplane slowed, he lost rudder authority, and the airplane ground-looped to the right. He said the left wing was structurally damaged when the left main landing gear collapsed during the ground-loop. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a loss of control and an inadvertent ground-loop during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the ground-loop and gusts.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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