# Accident 20221204018269A: Cessna A185F, Fergus Falls, MN, December 4, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 4, 2022, 11:00 local time
- Place: Fergus Falls, MN
- Airport: Fergus Falls Municipal-Einar Mickel
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.1600° N, 96.0900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1600&lon=-96.0900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N926HM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926HM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520-D (registry code 17236, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,275 total, 32 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221204018269A

## Narrative

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

PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ATTEMPTED A TAKE-OFF FROM RUNWAY 31 AT FERGUS FALLS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN AN AIRCRAFT HE HAD JUST PURCHASED.  (PIC DECLINED AN INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER / CFI.)  THE PIC LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL AND VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 31 STRIKING THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATOR LIGHTS (PAPI'S.) THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THROUGH THE GRASS AND CAME TO REST IN A DRAINAGE DITCH.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING ASSEMBLY, EMPENNAGE, PROPELLER, RIGHT LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURE.  PIC AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 WPR23LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA054), Dec 4, 2022: Cessna A185F (N926HM), Fergus Falls, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion.

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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