Pilot Debrief

Cessna 195 near Socorro, NM — 2019-05-22

Final reportWPR19LA153
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Date
2019-05-22
Location
Socorro, NM, USA
Airport
ONM
Aircraft
Cessna 195
Registration
N1008D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing with a quartering tailwind.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport for landing, the wind was reported as calm. During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down fast and bounced. When the airplane settled back onto the runway, it started to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and brakes; the left brake went all the way down and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and ground looped, and the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that when he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wind had increased. Examination of the brake system did not reveal any anomalies. Review of recorded weather observations from the accident airport indicated that, about the time of the accident, quartering tailwind conditions existed for the pilot’s chosen runway, with a tailwind component of about 8 knots and a right crosswind component of about 3 knots. Given this information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to changing wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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