FTW95LA152

Factual narrative

On March 31, 1995, approximately 1505 mountain standard time, a Cessna 195A, N1048D, was substantially damaged during landing at Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. As the pilot made his approach to Albuquerque, ATIS (automatic terminal information service) the reported winds were from 290 degrees at 8 knots. He was cleared to land on runway 35, but this was subsequently changed to runway 17. The pilot asked for a wind check, and was advised that the winds were calm. On final approach, the pilot realized there was a right quartering tailwind. The pilot flared "a little high" and the airplane bounced. A recovery was made with power. During rollout, the airplane began drifting to the left that was corrected by right rudder and brake application. The airplane then began drifting to the right. Left rudder and brake application had no effect and the airplane ground looped, collapsing the left main landing gear. Post-accident examination of the braking system revealed that the left brake assembly was missing the puck retaining clips. According to the aircraft maintenance manuals if the clips are not installed the brake will not respond to inputs from the pilot.. The pilot added, "I should not have accepted (a landing clearance in) a quartering right tailwind until I was more familiar with the airplane." ATIS REPORTED THE WIND TO BE FROM 290 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS, AND THE PILOT ACCEPTED A CLEARANCE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 17. ON FINAL APPROACH HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDS WERE CALM, BUT HE REALIZED THERE WAS A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT, AND THIS WAS CORRECTED BY RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE APPLICATION. THE AIRPLANE THEN DRIFTED RIGHT. LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE APPLICATION HAD NO EFFECT AND THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LEFT BRAKE ASSEMBLY PUCK CLIPS WERE MISSING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12