NTSB Factual Report

On April 17, 2005, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N4557F, sustained substantial damage when it ground-looped during the landing roll at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the flight instructor as a visual flight rules (VFR) local instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight instructor (first pilot) and the certificated private pilot (second pilot), were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 18, the first pilot said he was giving instruction to the second pilot prior to administering a biennial flight review. He said during the accident landing, the second pilot lost directional control, and he took control and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent a runway excursion. The first pilot said the airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated May 2, the first pilot wrote that the wind speed may have picked up, or the wind direction may have changed to more of a direct crosswind. He reported the winds as 220 degrees magnetic at 6-9 knots with gusts to 12 knots. He wrote that upon touchdown on runway 21, the airplane swung to the right, and that even with application of full left brake, the airplane continued to the right. He said he applied right brake and intentionally ground-looped the airplane to prevent it from exiting the runway and encountering a ditch.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's failure to provide adequate supervision of the second pilot during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and an intentional ground-loop by the instructor. A factor in the accident was the dual student's ( a certificated private pilot) loss of directional control during the landing roll.