- Date
- August 16, 2000, 22:30 local (Aug 17, 2000, 06:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kaktovik, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1205FCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20000817014389A
- Case key
- 50982
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area on the airstrip. Factors associated with this accident were the rough takeoff area, and the pilot's loss of directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated he began the takeoff roll, and the airplane hit a rut in the 2,000 feet long by 50 feet wide gravel airstrip. He stated the airplane swerved to the left, departed the edge of the airstrip, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the vertical stabilizer.
Factual narrative
On August 16, 2000, about 2230 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1205F, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during takeoff from the Bar-A airstrip, about 30 miles east of Kaktovik, Alaska, at 69 degrees, 52.979 minutes north latitude, 142 degrees, 18.592 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was being conducted by North Quest Aviation of Fairbanks, Alaska, under 14 CFR Part 91, as a repositioning leg after dropping off hunting clients. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 17, the pilot stated he began the takeoff roll, and the airplane hit a rut in the 2,000 feet long by 50 feet wide gravel airstrip. He stated the airplane swerved to the left, departed the edge of the airstrip, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the vertical stabilizer.
The pilot did not complete an NTSB accident report form as requested.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1205F
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18502768
- Engine
- Continental IO-520D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William E. Anker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- BTI · AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- Bar-A Airstrip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,900 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1205F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.