# NTSB ANC07CA033: Cessna 185, N9832X, Cantwell, AK, May 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2007, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cantwell, AK - Coordinates: 62.946388, -148.044174 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9464&lon=-148.0442&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65761/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a descent into high vegetation, and a nose over. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote cabin airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross country personal flight. The tundra and rock covered airstrip was oriented northeast/southwest, and was about 800 feet long and about 20 feet wide. The pilot departed toward and southwest, and lifted off with 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot said that at an altitude of about 10 feet, the airplane encountered a downdraft, which forced the airplane downward into high brush and a tree, about 200 feet beyond the end of the airstrip. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and empennage when it nosed over. The pilot said that convective activity and turbulence associated with thunderstorms was in the vicinity, with light rain showers in the area. ## Factual narrative The commercial certificated pilot was departing a remote cabin airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross country personal flight. The tundra and rock covered airstrip was oriented northeast/southwest, and was about 800 feet long and about 20 feet wide. The pilot departed toward and southwest, and lifted off with 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot said that at an altitude of about 10 feet, the airplane encountered a downdraft, which forced the airplane downward into high brush and a tree, about 200 feet beyond the end of the airstrip. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and empennage when it nosed over. The pilot said that convective activity and turbulence associated with thunderstorms was in the vicinity, with light rain showers in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9832X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9832X), registered now, S/N 1850032, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1850032 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David M. Parmenter - Registered owner: Copper Valley Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Cantwell, AK - Destination: PAGK, Glennallen, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 7,100 total, 250 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °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 20070510020169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070510020169A), May 10, 2007: Cessna 185, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was departing a small airstrip, about 65 miles nw of Glennallen, AK, in his wheel-equipped CE-185. The surface of the strip was wet and soft. The… ## Other investigations on N9832X (2) 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 MKC76DTK17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DTK17), Nov 12, 1975: Cessna 185 (N9832X), Hot Springs, SD, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN71AD038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71AD038), Mar 26, 1971: Cessna 185 (N9832X), Roosevelt, UT, 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.