Cessna A185F accident near Trinca, New Jersey, June 18, 2011
On June 18, 2011 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N714TX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Trinca, New Jersey (Trinca Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a ground-loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2011 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Trinca, New Jersey · Trinca Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N714TX · no longer on the register · serial 18504423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot recently purchased the tailwheel airplane; however, he did not possess a tailwheel endorsement and was receiving flight instruction in his airplane. The pilot stated that he landed on a turf runway, and shortly after touchdown, the airplane rolled about 800 feet and the left main landing gear contacted a divot in the turf, which caused the airplane to yaw left. He tried to correct the yaw by applying right rudder and brake. The flight instructor then also applied rudder, aileron, and elevator control; however, they were unable to regain control and the airplane ground-looped. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, right main landing gear, and right side fuselage. The pilot further stated that the wind was calm and the airplane did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,500 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 23,300 as pilot in command; 7,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 15, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,820 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 2010; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDW Caldwell NJ at 1:40 pm
- Destination: 13N Trinca NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 1,924 ft by 135 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FWN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.