On March 16, 2000, a Cessna A185-F (registration N1357M) was involved in an aviation accident near Bend, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot lost directional control of a tailwheel-equipped airplane during landing rollout on a dry paved runway, resulting in a ground loop off the centerline despite corrective brake and rudder inputs.
What happened
The accident occurred while a private pilot was attempting to land a tailwheel-equipped aircraft on a dry, paved runway. As the plane touched down and began its rollout phase, it started to weathervane, causing the nose to swing toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently drifted away from the centerline.
The pilot reported that he attempted to correct the deviation by applying both brake pressure and rudder input. However, these corrective actions were insufficient to maintain directional control. The aircraft continued its path off the paved surface and eventually ground-looped. At the time of the incident, wind conditions were reported by the pilot as coming from 280 degrees at a speed of 8 to 10 knots.
The investigation
Examination of the event revealed that no malfunctions or anomalies were identified with the aircraft's directional control systems. This suggests that the loss of control was not due to mechanical failure but rather pilot technique or environmental factors during the critical landing phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop.