- Date
- March 6, 2006, 08:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- Ely, NV
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N120KMCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Reno FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060306003119A
- Case key
- 63305
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a quartering tailwind while taxiing, which resulted in a loss of control and an on ground encounter with terrain. A factor in the accident was the quartering crosswind.
Analysis
The commercial certificated pilot was back-taxiing on Runway 12 in preparation for takeoff. There was a strong, gusty wind from the left rear quarter. The pilot reported that a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing and tail of the airplane, and the right wing struck the surface of the runway. The airplane pivoted to the right, and swerved off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels struck an area of muddy soil, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On March 6, 2006, about 0820 pacific standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N120KM, sustained substantial damage while taxiing for takeoff at the Ely Airport, Ely, Nevada. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the accident airport about 0815.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on March 6, the pilot reported that he was back-taxiing on Runway 12 in preparation for takeoff. There was a strong, gusty wind from the left rear quarter. The pilot reported that a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing and tail of the airplane, and the right wing struck the surface of the runway. The airplane pivoted to the right, and swerved off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels struck an area of muddy soil, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N120KM
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503720
- Airframe hours
- 2,900.5
- Engine
- Continental IO-550, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Edmond H. Sears
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2005
- Departed
- KELY · Ely, NV
- Destination
- Ely, NV
- Airport
- KELY · Ely Airport (Yelland Field), runway 12, 4,812 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,505 total · 750 in this make and model · 4,437 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.