# Accident 20120831021949A: Cessna A185F, Black Rock City, NV, August 31, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2012, 09:30 local time
- Place: Black Rock City, NV
- Airport: Black Rock City
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.9908° N, 118.9619° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9908&lon=-118.9619&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3946Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3946Q) (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 MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 665 total, 230 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA381) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831021949A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED IN AN EMAIL STATEMENT THAT THE PLANE LANDED 16.8 NM NORTH EAST OF BLACK ROCK CITY ON A SMALL PLAYA ON A SOUTH WEST HEADING.  AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES ON THE GROUND THE PLANE WAS TAXIED TO THE SOUTH EAST CORNER OF THE LAKE BED FOR TAKE OFF.  AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE THE WIND WAS APPROXIMATELY 5-10 KTS OUT OF THE WEST.  FULL BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE ENGINE BROUGHT TO FULL POWER BEFORE RELEASING THE BRAKES FOR TAKE OFF.  APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS INTO THE TAKE OFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO WEATHERVANE/PULL TO THE LEFT.  I WAS UNABLE TO COUNTERACT THE LEFT TURN WITH THE RUDDER SO THE TAKE OFF WAS ABORTED BY CUTTING THE POWER.  THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GRADUALLY WITH RIGHT RUDDER TO TRY AND ARREST THE LEFT TURNING ROLL OUT.  AS THE PLANE SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 10KTS IT TIPPED TO THE RIGHT, STRIKING THE RIGHT WING TIP AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.

## 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 WPR12CA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA381), Aug 31, 2012: Cessna A185F (N3946Q), Gerlach, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

## Other reports on N3946Q (1)

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

- [Incident 19990527034459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990527034459I), May 27, 1999: Cessna A185F (N3946Q), Truckee, CA, Minor damage. (-23) No narrative

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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