On September 12, 2005, a Cessna 185F (registration N58316) operated by Brooks Range Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Bettles, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A tailwheel-equipped airplane performing an on-demand passenger flight ground-looped during landing roll after the pilot lost rudder authority in strong crosswind conditions, resulting in structural damage.
Accident Overview
An airline transport certificated pilot was conducting a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand passenger flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the approach, the pilot performed a flyover of the airstrip and observed the windsock indicating a strong right crosswind.
Landing and Ground Loop
As the airplane slowed during the landing roll, the pilot reported losing rudder authority. The airplane subsequently ground-looped to the right. The left wing received structural damage when it struck the runway following the collapse of the main landing gear.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot stated that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.