Iliamna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iliamna, Alaska 99606
Wednesday, July 1, 1998 11:20 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated airline transport pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 17 in a tailwheel airplane. He stated that at the time of the accident, he inadvertently failed to meet the pilot-in-command requirements for a tailwheel airplane. The pilot rated passenger, seated in the right seat, was not a certificated flight instructor. The pilot stated that wind conditions at the time of the accident were varied, and were last reported to be from 090 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot stated that just after touchdown, the airplane veered to the right. He said that he applied left rudder in an attempt to maintain heading, but the airplane continued to the right. He stated that upon reaching the edge of the runway, he applied the brakes, and the left wheel lost traction in loose gravel. He said that the right wheel maintained traction, and the airplane ground looped to the right. During the ground loop, the left wing, aileron, and left elevator struck the runway and sustained substantial damage. At 1153, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 159 degrees (magnetic) at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind and the pilot's lack of recent experience in a tailwheel airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone --
Event City ILIAMNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99606
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ILIAMNA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ILI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 207
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ILI
Elevation of weather observation facility 207
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 159
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 872
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 1 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4574F
NTSB Number ANC98LA089
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185E
Aircraft Series Identifier 185E
Aircraft Serial Number 185-1081
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 25 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 931
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARTHUR E. GERKEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6160 FARPOINT DR
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99507
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ILIASKA LODGE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 228
Operator City ILIAMNA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99606
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 4800
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --