On August 6, 1989, a Cessna 185 (registration N9823X) operated by Heath, Jack L. was involved in an aviation accident near Durango, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a landing in gusty crosswind conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot practicing touch-and-go landings lost directional control and ground looped the aircraft due to a strong crosswind on runway 2.
What happened
The pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go landings on runway 2. During one of these maneuvers, the windsock indicated a significant crosswind component at the time of landing. The pilot estimated the wind velocity to be approximately 20 knots.
As the aircraft touched down, the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft subsequently ground looped. Official meteorological data recorded at 1350 mountain daylight time confirmed the conditions, showing winds from 290 degrees at 4 knots with gusts reaching 20 knots.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the immediate circumstances of the landing and the prevailing weather conditions. The pilot reported that the windsock indicated a strong crosswind during the landing phase. This observation was corroborated by the official weather report, which documented gusty winds consistent with the pilot's estimate.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a landing in gusty crosswind conditions.