No fatalities

11 Nov 2019: Cessna 195 — Kalispell, MT

Kalispell, MT, United States

On 11 Nov 2019, a Cessna 195 Undesignat was involved in an aviation accident near Kalispell, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and the left main landing gear collapsing. 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

A tailwheel airplane veered off the runway after a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control, resulting in a collapsed left landing gear and substantial damage to the left wing. A post-accident examination found no mechanical failures.

Incident Overview

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after a bounced landing, he maintained directional control and performed a three-point landing back onto the runway. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane gradually veered left. The pilot overcorrected, causing the airplane to veer right. He then applied left rudder and was able to maintain the runway centerline. However, as the airplane slowed, it again veered left. The pilot corrected with right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued left, exited the runway to the left, and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain.

Damage and Examination

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot was uncertain whether a mechanical anomaly with the tailwheel or brakes had occurred. A post-accident examination conducted by the pilot's mechanic revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Conclusion

The incident involved a loss of directional control following a bounced landing, leading to a runway excursion and structural damage. No mechanical issues were found that could explain the loss of control.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot