# Accident 20130305003269A: Cessna 185B, Iditarod, AK, March 5, 2013 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 5, 2013, 14:30 local time - Place: Iditarod, AK - Airport: Iditarod Checkpoint Airstrip - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 62.5436° N, 158.0972° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5436&lon=-158.0972&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2550Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2550Z-2019-01-14) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 185B (registry code 2072806, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185b) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520-D (registry code 17236, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185B - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-520-D - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 12,700 total, 700 in this make and model, 235 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC13CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA028) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130305003269A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE AIRMAN OVER FLEW THE AIRSTRIP PRIOR TO LANDING, STAYED ON THE GROUND FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR AND EVALUATED THE AIRSTRIP CONDITIONS AND SQUIRRELY WINDS. PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF, THE AIRMAN EVALUATED THE 1800 FOOT GROOMED AIRSTRIP BY OBTAINING PILOT REPORTS, SPEAKING WITH CHECK POINT PERSONNEL, REFERENCING THE ONSITE WIND INDICATOR, WALKING AND BACK TAXIING THE ENTIRE STRIP. THE AIRMAN DETERMINED THAT A TAKEOFF AND DEPARTURE TO THE EAST WAS APPROPRIATE TO AVOID OVER FLIGHT OF THE ABANDONED BUILDINGS BY A SLIGHT LEFT TURN AFTER LIFT-OFF. THE AIRMAN PERFORMED A SOFT FIELD TECHNIQUE TAKE-OFF DUE TO ABNORMALLY WARM TEMPERATURES, (45ºF) AND STICKY WET SNOW CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE WAS GREATER THAN THE AIRMAN ANTICIPATED AND WAS AIRBORNE BEFORE THE POINT THE AIRMAN HAD PICKED AS AN ABORT POINT. DURING THE SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF PER AIRCRAFT PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK AND THE PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS, THE AIRMAN LOWERED THE NOSE AFTER THE SKIS BROKE GROUND TO ALLOW FOR AIRSPEED TO BUILD. WHEN ENOUGH AIRSPEED (80 KTS) WAS OBTAINED, ABOUT TWO TO THREE SECONDS, THE AIRMAN RAISED THE NOSE TO CONTINUE THE CLIMB AND STARTED A SLIGHT LEFT TURN TO STAY OVER THE RIVER AND AVOID THE ANTICIPATED MECHANICAL TURBULENCE. AT THIS TIME THE AIRMAN WAS STILL WELL BELOW TREE TOP LEVEL (15 FEET) AND REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERING A DOWN DRAFT AS THE AIRCRAFT HAD STOPPED CLIMBING. THE AIRMAN LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND LEVELED THE WINGS TO AVOID AGGRAVATING THE SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE AIRMAN PICKED A SPOT STRAIGHT AHEAD IN CASE OF A NEEDED PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND, THE AIRMAN MAINTAINED AIRSPEED AND DECIDED TO MAKE A CONTROLLED LANDING DUE TO THE DOWN DRAFT AND INABILITY TO CLIMB. THE TRACKS IN THE FRESH SNOW INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON BOTH SKIS AND REMAINED ON THE SKIS FOR ABOUT 50 FEET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT, BECAUSE OF THE DEEP, WET, STICKY SNOW, NOSED OVER AND ENDED UP ON ITS BACK. AIRMAN AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. WEIGHT AND BALANCE IS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A HIGH OVERCAST SKY WITH MIDDAY SUN; DEPTH PERCEPTION AND FLAT LIGHT WERE ALSO NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. TOTAL TIME FROM LIFT OFF TO IMPACT WAS 5-8 SECONDS. ## 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 ANC13CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA028), Mar 5, 2013: Cessna 185B (N2550Z), Flat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting, variable wind conditions during initial climb after takeoff. ## Other reports on N2550Z (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19900814035759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900814035759A), Aug 14, 1990: Cessna 185B (N2550Z), Mcgrath, AK, Substantial damage. Left wheel locked up on landing. Caused a ground loop. Wheel bearing fractured. Wheels installed by pilot. - [Incident 19800626049019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800626049019I), Jun 26, 1980: Cessna 185B (N2550Z), Red Devil, AK, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control after landing on recently bladed dirt strip. Soft spot turned him into a gravel berm - [Accident 19760126002009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760126002009A), Jan 26, 1976: Cessna 185B (N2550Z), Nondalton, AK, Substantial damage. Frozen lake covered with snow & volcanic ash. 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.