Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 18, 2015 in Independence, IA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/13/2015
Aircraft: CESSNA 195A, registration: N1558D
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot was landing on runway 36. After touching down, the airplane began a slow right turn. The pilot attempted to correct by applying left rudder and light braking, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and was substantially damaged. The wind was from 100 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots, which resulted in a 13.7 to 17.7 knot crosswind component, and a 2.5 to 3.2 knot tailwind component. Most light general aviation airplanes are limited to a direct crosswind component of 15 knots.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's attempt to land in strong crosswind conditions, resulting in his on-ground loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind that exceeded the crosswind limits of the airplane.
The pilot configured the airplane for a crosswind landing on runway 36 using cross controlled inputs. He flared and touched down in a 3-point attitude. After rolling 150 to 200 feet down the runway, the airplane began a slow right turn. He attempted to correct by applying left rudder and light braking, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear was torn off, and the left wing was bent upward after striking the ground.
At the time of the accident, the wind was from 100 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. According to AeroPlanner.com "Wind Calculator and Wind Speed Measurement," these conditions would result in a 13.7 to 17.7 knot crosswind component, and a 2.5 to 3.2 knot tailwind component. In the 1950s, maximum crosswind components were not published by airframe manufacturers, but today light general aviation airplanes are limited to a direct crosswind component of 15 knots.
Independence Municipal Airport manager Jonathan Walter, right, helps unload a damaged Cessna 195 airplane after wind caused a ground loop and the plane spun around on the runway Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Independence, Iowa. No injuries were reported.
INDEPENDENCE | An east wind contributed to a small aircraft crash-landing at the Independence Municipal Airport Saturday morning.
Airport staff said the Cessna 195 spun around as it touched down on the runway, which is referred to as a “ground loop.”
No one was injured in the 9:30 a.m. incident. Four people were on the plane.
An airport maintenance person, who only gave his name as Joe, saw what happened.
“He was landing and the wind caught him and it turned him right off into the grass,” said the man. “He didn’t correct it quick enough and he just spun.”
The blue and white airplane’s left wing was bent upward after the accident. There was damage underneath, as well, and the left wheel was torn off.
Gretchen Fisher, a flight instructor with Walter Aviation, said it can be very challenging for a pilot to land a plane without damage in such a situation.
“When things go wrong, they happen quickly and it’s hard to catch up on them,” she said.
Walter Aviation operates the airport and was holding a tail wheel fly-in/drive-in breakfast at the airport, which drew planes from Northeast Iowa and some surrounding states.
Fisher said a tail wheel plane includes a single wheel at the back of the aircraft with two more under the cockpit or wings. Other small aircraft have their third wheel under the nose of the plane.
“Tail wheel aircraft are harder to fly than your traditional aircraft,” said Fisher. The planes need to land at a lower speed than others.
“The desired direction is to land into the wind. When it’s off to the side, it becomes more tricky,” she said.
Independence’s airport has north-south runways, but Fisher said Saturday morning’s wind was coming directly from the east – the hardest to land in. “It’s especially difficult if it’s a tail wheel aircraft,” she noted.
By 11:15 a.m., the damaged plane had been loaded onto a trailer and was being pulled to the edge of the airport by a pickup. After backing it into the grass, airport staff unloaded it from the trailer and it lay on the ground.
The pilot remained on the scene while workers moved the aircraft. He declined to talk about the incident or give his name. According to a database on the aircraft's number, it is registered to Donald Hedeman of Dubuque.
Original article can be found here: http://wcfcourier.com
No one was injured in the 9:30 a.m. incident. Four people were on the plane.
An airport maintenance person, who only gave his name as Joe, saw what happened.
“He was landing and the wind caught him and it turned him right off into the grass,” said the man. “He didn’t correct it quick enough and he just spun.”
The blue and white airplane’s left wing was bent upward after the accident. There was damage underneath, as well, and the left wheel was torn off.
Gretchen Fisher, a flight instructor with Walter Aviation, said it can be very challenging for a pilot to land a plane without damage in such a situation.
“When things go wrong, they happen quickly and it’s hard to catch up on them,” she said.
Walter Aviation operates the airport and was holding a tail wheel fly-in/drive-in breakfast at the airport, which drew planes from Northeast Iowa and some surrounding states.
Fisher said a tail wheel plane includes a single wheel at the back of the aircraft with two more under the cockpit or wings. Other small aircraft have their third wheel under the nose of the plane.
“Tail wheel aircraft are harder to fly than your traditional aircraft,” said Fisher. The planes need to land at a lower speed than others.
“The desired direction is to land into the wind. When it’s off to the side, it becomes more tricky,” she said.
Independence’s airport has north-south runways, but Fisher said Saturday morning’s wind was coming directly from the east – the hardest to land in. “It’s especially difficult if it’s a tail wheel aircraft,” she noted.
By 11:15 a.m., the damaged plane had been loaded onto a trailer and was being pulled to the edge of the airport by a pickup. After backing it into the grass, airport staff unloaded it from the trailer and it lay on the ground.
The pilot remained on the scene while workers moved the aircraft. He declined to talk about the incident or give his name. According to a database on the aircraft's number, it is registered to Donald Hedeman of Dubuque.
Original article can be found here: http://wcfcourier.com
Crews with the Independence Municipal Airport unload a damaged Cessna 195 airplane after wind caused a ground loop and the plane spun around on the runway Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Independence, Iowa.
A damaged wing of a Cessna 195 airplane after wind caused a ground loop and the plane spun around on the runway Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Independence, Iowa.
Crews at Independence Municipal Airport load a damaged Cessna 195 airplane on a flatbed after wind caused a ground loop and the plane spun around on the runway Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Independence, Iowa.
This aircraft was previously owned by my father from (circa)1966 to 1985. Our family has many fond memories of vacation trips in the 195. I was disappointed to see the plane's color scheme change from Red/Silver to Blue/White and furthermore, disappointed the plane is no longer "airworthy".
ReplyDeleteBill, it's back in action living in California. I can't post here but feel free to email me and I can send you some photos! 1propnut@gmail.com
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