NTSB Factual Report

On September 14, 2005, approximately 1545 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N4807, registered to and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during landing at Boulder Municipal Airport (1V5), Boulder, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Springfield, Missouri (SGF), approximately 1110.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he was "routed" to the north as he approached Denver due to thunderstorm and traffic activity. Monitoring 1V5's automated weather observation station (AWOS), he learned there was lightning to the west. Approximately 12 miles out, the pilot was cleared to 1V5. "Denver asked if I wished to close my flight plan which I declined as I was concerned about the crosswind at 1V5, thinking I might have to divert to the Jefferson County Municipal Airport (BJC)." While monitoring AWOS, the wind shifted and lightning was reported to the north, south, and west. The pilot observed wind and rain as he approached 1V5 from the east. The pilot said he "joined on [a] left downwind leg for runway 08, checked the windsock and noted the wind to be a crosswind as reported on AWOS." While on the downwind leg, the airplane entered light rain. The pilot said the visibility was still "good", but he noticed heavier rain showers over 1V5. On final approach leg, the airplane encountered "light to moderate" turbulence and airspeed decayed. The airplane touched down on its right main landing gear and started bouncing. When both main gears touched down on the wet runway, the airplane drifted from left to right. The airplane became airborne and "turned approximately 10 to 15 degrees to the right and almost instantly put back on the runway." The pilot said he applied full right aileron and full left rudder and the airplane turned sharply to the right and the left wing scraped the tarmac. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest 30 feet off the edge and at a 90 degree angle to the runway. According to a pilot who witnessed the accident, the airplane landed with a "tailwind."

According to the pilot, the left wingtip was bent upwards approximately 5 degrees, the left outboard aileron tip sustained damage, the left main landing gear was bent, and the tip of the left elevator was bent up approximately 3 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and his subsequent failure to recover from the bounced landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper in-flight decision to land in deteriorating weather conditions, turbulence associated with thunderstorms, tailwind, and the wet runway.