No fatalities

5 May 2008: Cessna 185 — K2 Aviation — Talkeetna, AK

Talkeetna, AK, United States

On 5 May 2008, a Cessna 185 operated by K2 Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which led to an inadvertent ground loop. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot performing touch-and-go landings experienced a ground loop that resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's left wing.

What happened

On May 5, 2008, an airline transport certificated pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings at Talkeetna, Alaska. During the fourth landing attempt, the Cessna 185, registered N125KT, veered sharply to the right. This maneuver resulted in a ground loop, during which the left wing of the aircraft struck the runway. The accident resulted in no injuries.

The investigation

The investigation determined that the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft prior to the accident. Weather conditions at the time were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 300 degrees at 6 knots.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which led to an inadvertent ground loop.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Pilot