Event LAX04LA142

Factual narrative

On February 29, 2004, at 1156 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N338H, ground looped during the landing rollout at the Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The pilot owned and operated the airplane, having purchased it a couple of days prior to the accident flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from El Paso, Texas, at 0956. The pilot reported that on final approach the local controller advised him that the wind was from 300 degrees, at 7 knots, and then cleared him to land on runway 11R. The pilot reported that he performed a normal three-point touchdown and rolled out without difficulty. As the airplane decelerated, a tailwind was present and the airplane swerved. The pilot subsequently remarked that although he applied corrective rudder pressure, he should have increased engine power to assist in maintaining directional control. No engine power was added and, when the airplane swerved, a wing contacted the runway. During the landing rollout with a quartering tailwind, the pilot lost control of his airplane and it ground looped. The mishap occurred at the completion of a 2-hour-long flight in the airplane, which the pilot had purchased a few days earlier. The pilot reported that on final approach the local controller advised him that the wind was from 300 degrees, at 7 knots, and then cleared him to land on runway 11R. The pilot said that he performed a normal three-point touchdown and rolled out without difficulty. As the airplane decelerated, a tailwind was present and the airplane swerved. The pilot said that although he applied corrective rudder pressure, he should have increased engine power to assist in maintaining directional control. No engine power was added and, when the airplane swerved, a wing contacted the runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12