20100801049759A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna A185F · Newfane, NY · August 1, 2010

Date: August 1, 2010 · 14:20 local
Place: Newfane, NY
Airport: Hollands International Field
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4976E
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA10LA389
Reported as: Cessna A185F
Reported engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 5
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,985 total559 in this make and model96 in the last 90 days

N4976ERegistration cancelled Mar 2, 2011 · Cessna A185FS/N 18503924 · Built 1979 Airframe modelCessna A185F Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During rotation at lift off on a parachuting flight, the jump door, located on the right side of the aircraft opened. The pilot was not concerned with the door which would not have impacted the airplanes performance. One of the parachutists attempted to secure the door. The pilot yelled for him to stop, however, the parachutist continued to attempt to secure the door to the point he was partially outside the aircraft. The pilot then grabbed the parachutist and tried to pull him back inside. During this time the pilot became distracted and the airplane drifted over the trees alongside the left side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently impacted a stand of trees and then impacted the ground.

As the FAA filed it

DURING ROTATION AT LIFT OFF ON A PARACHUTING FLIGHT, THE JUMP DOOR, LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT OPENED. THE PILOT WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE DOOR WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE IMPACTED THE AIRPLANES PERFORMANCE. ONE OF THE PARACHUTISTS ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE DOOR. THE PILOT YELLED FOR HIM TO STOP, HOWEVER, THE PARACHUTIST CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE DOOR TO THE POINT HE WAS PARTIALLY OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT THEN GRABBED THE PARACHUTIST AND TRIED TO PULL HIM BACK INSIDE. DURING THIS TIME THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OVER THE TREES ALONGSIDE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A STAND OF TREES AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA10LA389Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNewfane, NYThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to his diverted attention, which resulted in a collision with trees during the initial climb after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the passenger's attempt to secure the jump door after it opened…Aug 1, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4976E · 1

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

Incident 19831113070919ILevel Off Touchdown · Beverly, MAAfter instrument instruction, landed amphibian gear up. Instructor in right seat.Nov 13, 1983 · Minor damage