# Accident 20041017024789A: Cessna A185F, Cottonwood, ID, October 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2004, 11:30 local time
- Place: Cottonwood, ID
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7900° N, 116.4947° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7900&lon=-116.4947&mi=10
- Aircraft: N101AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101AM-2004-12-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Reported engine: CONT IO520D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,325 total, 992 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041017024789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON OCTOBER 17, 2004 MICHAEL FOLEY, THE PILOT, ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRSTRIP IS APPROXIMATELY 2500 FEET IN LENGTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF 4600 WITH AN ESTIMATED 7% TO 8% GRADIENT ON THE SOUTH 2/3 OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 30 KNOTS. HE ELECTED TO TAKE OFF INTO THE WIND GOING UPHILL. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE BUT MADE SLIGHT CONTACT WITH THE GROUND JUST PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND PROCEEDED THROUGH A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE PILOT INDICATED WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO LAND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. THE PILOT COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 150 DEGREES OF A RIGHT TURN WHEN HE CONTACTED THE TOP OF THE RIDGE. THIS CONTACT CRATER HAD PARTS OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEARBOX AND RIGHT STEP. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 375 FEET FROM THE FIRST INDICATIONS OF IMPACT ALONG A 300" MAGNETIC COURSE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROUGHLY POINTED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN TRAVELING. THE TAIL ASSEMBLY WAS TORN FROM THE FUSELAGE WITH ONLY THE CONTROL CABLES ATTACHED. THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE.

## 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 SEA05LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA009), Oct 17, 2004: Cessna A185F (N101AM), White Bird, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper airspeed for takeoff and his improper soft-field takeoff procedure. Factors contributing to the accident included the pilot's improper preflight planning, the…

## Other reports on N101AM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19781114039199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781114039199A), Nov 14, 1978: Cessna A185E (N101AM), Harvey, LA, Substantial damage. Float eqpd. Hit barge.

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.

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