No fatalities

9 Nov 2018: Cessna A185 F — Moody Aviation — Reardan, WA

Reardan, WA, United States

On 9 Nov 2018, a Cessna A185 F operated by Moody Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Reardan, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot receiving instruction's improper approach and landing flare in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. 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 VFR cross-country instruction flight, a tailwheel airplane veered off a private airstrip after a bounced landing and go-around attempt, sustaining substantial left wing damage.

Incident

A flight instructor was evaluating a pilot receiving instruction in a tailwheel-equipped, high performance airplane during a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight. The instructor reported that they considered the runway to be "a one-way strip." Upon arrival at the private airstrip, the GPS indicated a 5-knot crosswind from the southeast.

During the approach, the airplane was about "50 ft high" when it crossed the predetermined go-around point. On touchdown, the airplane bounced twice, and the pilot initiated a go-around. The instructor then "reminded" the pilot that they were committed to the landing and instructed him not to go around, so the pilot transitioned the airplane back to landing.

During the subsequent touchdown, the airplane "quickly" veered right. The pilot attempted to correct the veer, but the airplane exited the right side of the airstrip, encountered soft ground, and nosed down, coming to rest on the spinner and left wing.

Damage and Findings

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot indicated that the wind at the airport was about 140° at 5 knots, and the pilot was landing on runway 5.

Pilot and Instructor Actions

The flight instructor recommended that he should have taken the controls sooner in the abnormal situation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operationInstructor/check pilot