Skip to content

CHI06LA255

2006-08-25 · Valentine, Nebraska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport VTN

Current FAA registration · N4730Q

Make / Model
CESSNA A185E
Year of manufacture
1966 · 40 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19680808
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5CEA6

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop by the pilot. A factor contributing to the accident was the gusting crosswind condition.

Factual narrative

On August 25, 2006, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N4730Q, owned and piloted by an airline transport pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain when the airplane ground-looped during landing at Miller Field Airport, Valentine, Nebraska. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The pilot reported that she performed a "wheel landing" on runway 32 (4,700 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) and that after landing the airplane began to drift to the right. When the tail wheel contacted the runway she reported that the "right wheel dropped off of some uneven pavement". The pilot then applied the left brake and the airplane subsequently ground looped. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: wind 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots. The airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot reported that when she applied the left brake the airplane ground looped. Wind conditions reported near the time of the accident were: wind 350 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_CHI06LA255.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.