Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain direction control of the airplane during landing. The tailwind was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing rollout, a gust of wind swung the tail of the airplane to the left, and the airplane began to skid to the right and ground loop. The left main landing gear collapsed. No deficiencies were noted with the landing gear wheel/brake assembly.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 6, 1993, at 1138 Alaska daylight time (ADT), a wheel equipped Cessna 180A airplane, N5252D, owned and operated by the pilot in command, crashed during the landing rollout on runway 33 at Merrill Field, Alaska. The private certificated pilot in command and the one passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was being operated as a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Port Alsworth at about 0915. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator in charge during the on scene investigation that during the landing rollout, a gust of wind swung the tail of the airplane to the left and the airplane began to skid to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane went over onto its side. No problems were found with the landing gear wheel/brake assembly. -