# Accident 20020911023539A: Cessna A185E, Mcgrath, AK, September 11, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 11, 2002, 13:00 local time - Place: Mcgrath, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 63.7667° N, 154.8183° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7667&lon=-154.8183&mi=10 - Aircraft: N1987U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1987U-2012-08-20) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna A185E (registry code 2072818, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC02LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA119) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020911023539A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2002, ABOUT 1300 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT-EQUIPPED CESSNA 185 AIRPLANE, N1987U, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE WATER-FILLED SLOUGH LOCATED ABOUT 52 MILES NORTH OF MCGRATH, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY BUSINESS FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY WILD ALASKA TROPHY OUTFITTERS, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE SOLO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. THE FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO GALENA, ALASKA. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 12, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING IN A 800 FEET LONG, WATER-FILLED SLOUGH, HE DROPPED OFF TWO HUNTERS AND THEIR GEAR. HE SAID THAT DURING HIS LANDING APPROACH, HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE OUT OF THE NORTH, AT 12 TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A NORTHERLY TAKEOFF RUN, JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE NORTHERLY WINDS DISSIPATED, AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A STAND OF TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE SLOUGH, NOSED OVER, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND EMPENNAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) NTSB #ANC02LA119 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED AIRMAN WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A RIVER SLOUGH. AIRMAN ESTIMATED THE STRAIGHT PORTION ABOUT ONE THOUSAND FEET, WIND WAS DOWN THE SLOUGH. FLAPS 20 WERE USED, ONCE AIRBORNE WIND STOPPED, DURING A RIGHT TURN AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE TREES. NO INJURY TO PILOT, AIRCRAFT DAMAGED. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC02LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA119), Sep 11, 2002: Cessna 185 (N1987U), Mc Grath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind condition. ## Other reports on N1987U (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19980829022349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980829022349A), Aug 29, 1998: Cessna A185E (N1987U), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The airline transport pilot was landing a tailwheel equipped airplane on a paved, dry runway. The pilot stated that on initial touchdown, the airplane… - [Accident 19980324006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980324006869A), Mar 24, 1998: Cessna A185E (N1987U), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Touch and go on 06. Reported right wheel locked on touchdown. Ground looped. (.4)the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 6 in a… - [Accident 19800412009109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800412009109A), Apr 12, 1980: Cessna 185E (N1987U), Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. Heavily loaded seaplane would not climb after takeoff. Aborted. Seaplane ran upon beach. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.