NTSB MIA01LA123 — 2001-04-16 · Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States

N252W has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5, built 1946), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N252W Cessna A185F None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after encounter wind gusts during landing roll resulting in the airplane ground looping to the left and the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator contacting the runway and receiving substantial damage.

Factual narrative

On April 16, 2001, about 1209 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N252W, registered to an individual, ground looped during landing at Fayetteville Regional Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Fayetteville Regional Airport, the same day, about 1200. The pilot stated that during landing roll a gust of wind caused the airplane to begin turning to the left. Attempts to correct the left turn were unsuccessful. The airplane ground looped to the left about 90 degrees, striking the right wing and horizontal stabilizer on the runway. Examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors showed the right wing, stabilizer, and elevator received substantial damage. The pilot stated that during landing rollout, a gust of wind caused the airplane to turn to the left. Attempts to correct the left turn were unsuccessful and the airplane ground looped to the left 90 degrees and came to rest on the runway. The right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator contacted the runway and received damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2001_MIA01LA123.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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