Event ANC98LA030

Factual narrative

On March 24, 1998, about 1045 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185E airplane, N1987U, sustained substantial damage while landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Merrill Field at 1010. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 24, 1998 at 1100, the pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 06, which required a correction for a left cross wind. The pilot stated that on the accident landing, the airplane bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire. The right main wheel "grabbed" as it made contact with the runway, and the airplane ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing, aileron, and right elevator struck the runway and sustained substantial damage. Merrill Field weather observation at the time of the accident consisted of: Sky conditions and ceiling, 5,500 broken, 9,000 overcast; visibility, 10 statute miles; wind, 016 degrees (magnetic) at 7 knots. The pilot noted in his written report to the NTSB that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 6 in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on the paved runway. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were 016 at 7 knots. The pilot stated that the airplane bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire. The right main wheel 'grabbed' as it made contact with the runway, and the airplane ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing, aileron, and right elevator struck the runway and sustained substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12