# NTSB ANC07CA097: Cessna 185, N94260, McGrath, AK, September 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2007, 19:30 local (Sep 11, 2007, 03:30 UTC) - Place: McGrath, AK - Coordinates: 61.902221, -154.55194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9022&lon=-154.5519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66651/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area which resulted in an overrun and collision with a gravel berm during an aborted takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were his delay in aborting the takeoff, and the short takeoff area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - short runway/landing area - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - berm - Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was departing from a 960 foot-long, rough and uneven gravel airstrip, with three passengers and baggage during a Title 14, CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The pilot reported that prior to starting the takeoff, he selected 10 degrees of flaps. During the takeoff roll, he selected 20 degrees flaps as the airplane reached rotation speed. The pilot said that the airplane failed to become airborne as it neared the end of the airstrip, and he aborted the takeoff run. He applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it went off the airstrip. The airplane's main landing gear wheels collided with a gravel bar, and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot was departing from a 960 foot-long, rough and uneven gravel airstrip, with three passengers and baggage during a Title 14, CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight. The pilot reported that prior to starting the takeoff, he selected 10 degrees of flaps. During the takeoff roll, he selected 20 degrees flaps as the airplane reached rotation speed. The pilot said that the airplane failed to become airborne as it neared the end of the airstrip, and he aborted the takeoff run. He applied heavy braking, but was unable to stop the airplane before it went off the airstrip. The airplane's main landing gear wheels collided with a gravel bar, and both main landing gear legs collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94260](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94260), registered now, S/N 18503296, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1850326 - Airframe hours: 4359.5 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Servant Air Inc - Registered owner: Wesley A. Osowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2007 - Departed: McGrath, AK - Destination: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: runway 36, 960 × 50 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 4,166 total, 523 in this make and model, 3,734 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °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 20070910825209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070910825209A), Sep 10, 2007: Cessna A185F, Sparrevohn, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot-in-command attempted to takeoff from an unimproved strip, approximately 920 feet in length. During the takeoff run the aircraft did not achieve… ## Other investigations on N94260 (1) 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 ANC24LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA075), Aug 8, 2024: Cessna A185F (N94260), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing at a short remote airstrip. 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.