- Date
- September 11, 2002, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mc Grath, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1987UCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020911023539A
- Case key
- 55689
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, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind condition.
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 solo airline transport pilot reported that after an uneventful landing on an 800 foot long, water-filled slough, he dropped off two hunters and their gear. He said that during his landing approach, he estimated the winds to be out of the north, at 12 to 15 knots. The pilot reported that during initial climb following a northerly takeoff, the northerly winds dissipated, and the airplane would not continue to climb. The airplane collided with a stand of trees at the departure end of the slough, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On September 11, 2002, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1987U, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from a remote water-filled slough, located about 52 miles north of McGrath, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Wild Alaska Trophy Outfitters, Anchorage, Alaska. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was en route to Galena, Alaska.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 12, the pilot reported that after an uneventful landing on an 800 foot long, water-filled slough, he dropped off two hunters and their gear. He said that during his landing approach, he estimated the winds to be out of the north, at 12 to 15 knots. The pilot reported that during initial climb following a northerly takeoff, the northerly winds dissipated, and the airplane would not continue to climb. The airplane subsequently collided with a stand of trees at the departure end of the slough, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Neither the pilot, nor the operator, submitted an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1987U
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18501745
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark W. Confer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MCG · Mc Grath, AK
- Destination
- GAL · Galena, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 50 °F
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 N1987U · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.