# NTSB ANC03LA031: Cessna 185, N1613M, Galena, AK, March 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2003, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Galena, AK - Coordinates: 64.733329, -156.933334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7333&lon=-156.9333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56611 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56611/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA031 ## Probable cause The failure of the airplane to climb after takeoff which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during an aborted landing attempt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - climb - not possible (cause) - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that following an intersection departure, the airplane stopped climbing when it was about 50 feet above the runway. He said that the airplane's engine appeared to be producing full power, but the airplane still would not climb. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, the pilot closed the engine throttle in an effort to abort the takeoff, and land on the remaining runway. The airplane descended, and as the airplane's main landing gear struck the surface of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane's left wing struck the runway, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, into an area of snow-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. An FAA aviation safety inspector examined the airplane, and reported that no airframe or engine preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered. The inspector reported that the propeller assembly had been removed prior to his arrival. Under the direction of the NTSB IIC, the propeller assembly was disassembled and inspected. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted during the examination. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2003, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1613M, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff from the Galena Airport, Galena, 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 flight was being conducted in support of the Iditarod Trail dog sled race. The certificated commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Galena Airport, and was en route to Unalakleet, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 9, the pilot reported that following an intersection departure from runway 07, the airplane stopped climbing when it was about 50 feet above the runway. The pilot added that the airplane's engine appeared to be producing full power, but the airplane still would not climb. He said that as the airplane neared the end of the runway, he closed the engine throttle in an effort to abort the takeoff, and land on the remaining runway. The airplane descended, and as the airplane's main landing gear struck the surface of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane's left wing struck the runway, and the airplane ultimately veered off the left side of the runway, into an area of snow-covered terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The airplane was retrieved from the accident airport and transported to a maintenance facility located in Big Lake, Alaska. On May 29 , a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector of the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, inspected the airplane. The inspector reported that no airframe or engine preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted. The inspector reported that the propeller assembly had been removed prior to his arrival. On June 17, a propeller tear down and inspection was conducted at Dominion Propeller Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska. While under the direction of the NTSB IIC, the propeller assembly was disassembled and inspected. No preimpact mechanical anomalies were discovered during the examination. The Safety Board released the propeller assembly to the owner's representative on June 17, 2003. No other components were retained by the Safety Board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1613M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1613M), registered now, S/N 18501833, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 018501833 - Airframe hours: 2270 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger R. Sires - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: PAGA, Galena, AK - Destination: PAUN, Unalakleet, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PAGA, Galena, runway 06, 7,254 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,457 total, 1,142 in this make and model, 2,332 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 10 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030309002279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030309002279A), Mar 9, 2003: Cessna A185E, Galena, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On March 9, 2003, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N1613M, sustained substantial damage when it collided with… ## Other investigations on N1613M (3) 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 LAX98LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA299), Sep 20, 1998: Cessna 185E (N1613M), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the wheel assembly retention nuts and subsequent wheel separation. - [NTSB CHI96LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA024), Oct 24, 1995: Cessna A185E (N1613M), Liberal, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground swerve. - [NTSB ANC86LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA117), Jul 30, 1986: Cessna 185E (N1613M), Tetlin, AK, substantial damage 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. --- 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.