No fatalities

15 Jul 2020: Cessna A185 E — Rochester, IN

Rochester, IN, United States

On 15 Jul 2020, a Cessna A185 E was involved in an aviation accident near Rochester, IN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing resulting in a ground loop. 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 landing on runway 11, a private pilot and passenger experienced a ground loop after the airplane veered right, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.

Incident Overview

A private pilot, accompanied by a passenger, reported landing on runway 11. The pilot stated that they performed a "3-point landing." During the rollout, the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite applying full left rudder and full left brake, the pilot was unable to stop the right turn. The airplane subsequently ground looped and came to rest on the grass on the right side of the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage when it struck the ground. The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunctions occurred during the flight.

Sequence of Events

The landing was described as a standard 3-point landing. After touchdown, while rolling out, the aircraft deviated to the right. The pilot's corrective inputs—full left rudder and full left brake—did not prevent the turning motion. The aircraft then swung around in a ground loop, ending up off the runway surface on the right side.

Aircraft Damage

The left wing was substantially damaged upon impact with the ground. No other details regarding damage to other parts of the aircraft were provided.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the airplane before or during the flight. The cause of the veer was not specified in the available information.

Contributing factors

Pilot