Cessna A185F accident near Billings, Montana, April 9, 1992
On April 9, 1992 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N135NC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Billings, Montana (Billings airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A WORN TAILWHEEL STEERING SYSTEM AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1992 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Billings, Montana · Billings · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N135NC · registry record · serial 185-03992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE WITH A DIRECT X-WIND FROM THE RIGHT, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAILWHEEL WOULD FREELY SWIVEL TO THE RIGHT RESULTING IN NO STEERING TO THE LEFT. THIS FREE CASTERING WAS CAUSED BY WEAR ON ONE SIDE OF THE LATCH SPRING, AND CORRESPONDING WEAR IN THE SPRING NOTCH IN THE STEERING ARM ASSEMBLY. THE RUDDER STILL HAD FULL TRAVEL AVAILABLE BOTH TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 28,788 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 21,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MBG Mobridge SD at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.