- Date
- August 21, 2001, 18:30 local (Aug 22, 2001, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cordova, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N111FBCessna 185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 15, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010821036169A
- Case key
- 53223
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were trees and a variable wind.
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 certificated commerical pilot, with two passengers aboard, was departing to the east on a grass-covered airstrip. Just after lift-off, a strong gust of wind from the left pushed the tail of the airplane to the right. The airplane veered to the left and struck a stand of trees. It sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.
Factual narrative
On August 21, 2001, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 185F airplane, N111FB, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from Boswell Bay Airstrip, located about 15 miles southwest of Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the accident airstrip and was en route to Cordova.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 21, the pilot reported that while departing to the east on a grass-covered airstrip, just after lift-off, a strong gust of wind from the left pushed the tail of the airplane to the right, and the airplane veered to the left. The left wing struck a stand of trees, and the airplane continued off the left side of the airstrip. It came to rest in a stand of trees adjacent to the airstrip edge, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N111FB
- Reported as
- Cessna 185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503251
- Airframe hours
- 1,105
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James B. Kallander
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 15, 2001
- Departed
- CVD · Cordova, AK
- Destination
- CVD · Cordova, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 8, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,192 total · 450 in this make and model · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Altimeter
- 29.42 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.