No fatalities

25 Jul 2013: CESSNA A185F — MATHEWS NICHOLAS A — Pocatello, ID

Pocatello, ID, United States

On 25 Jul 2013, a CESSNA A185F operated by MATHEWS NICHOLAS A was involved in an aviation accident near Pocatello, ID. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with gusting wind and a quartering tailwind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing with gusting crosswind and wind shift to a quartering tailwind, the pilot lowered the tail to the runway, then the right wing lifted. Corrective inputs caused yaw, left landing gear collapse, and substantial left wing damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported an accident during a landing approach in gusty wind conditions. According to the pilot, while landing with a gusting crosswind, a wind shift resulted in a quartering tailwind component. After the pilot had lowered the tail to the runway, the airplane's right wing lifted upward.

Sequence of Events

The pilot applied corrective control inputs to counteract the wing lift. However, these inputs caused the airplane to yaw sideways. The yawing motion led to the collapse of the left landing gear. Consequently, the left wing sustained substantial damage.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

GustsTailwind