# NTSB ANC10LA087: Cessna 185A, N4038Y, Paxson, AK, September 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2010, 15:53 local (23:53 UTC) - Place: Paxson, AK - Coordinates: 62.835277, -146.235275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8353&lon=-146.2353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77267/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77267 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to make a climbing turn close to the ground in gusting wind at a low airspeed, resulting in a loss of control and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 185A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072804), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that the float-equipped airplane had lifted off from a lake and climbed to about 200 feet above the lake level. He said that there was rising terrain ahead, which the airplane was capable of out-climbing, but his destination was behind him and he initiated a climbing left turn. He described the wind as being on the nose during takeoff, and that he initiated the climbing left turn with 70 knots of airspeed. He said a wind gust from the right increased the angle of bank to 50-60 degrees, and the airplane started to descend. During the descent, the wind rolled the airplane to the left again, but he was able to level the wings prior to the airplane impacting terrain. He reported no preexisting mechanical problems with the airplane, which sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2010, about 1553 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185A airplane, N4038Y, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain following a takeoff from a lake, about 28 miles west of Paxson, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot received serious injuries, and the three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on September 21, the pilot said the airplane had lifted off the lake and climbed to about 200 feet above the lake level when he initiated a climbing left turn. He said there was rising terrain ahead which the airplane was capable of out climbing, but his destination was behind him. He said the wind had been about 15 knots on the nose during takeoff, and that he initiated the climbing left turn with 70 knots of airspeed. He said he encountered a wind gust from the right which increased the angle of bank to 50-60 degrees. The pilot said the airplane started to descend and wind shear rolled the airplane to the left again. He said he was able to level the wings prior to the airplane impacting terrain. He said he should have climbed straight ahead, and gained more altitude before making the turn. The pilot said the airplane was well maintained, and there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. A passenger reported that the airplane received substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Due to the remote location the airplane was not examined by the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4038Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4038Y-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 1850238, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185A - Registry model: [Cessna 185A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (registry code 2072804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1850238 - Airframe hours: 2197 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Price - Registered owner: Alaska Airventures LLC - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2010 - Departed: Paxson, AK - Destination: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100912049419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100912049419A), Sep 12, 2010: Cessna 185A, Paxon, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he took off from the water, got airborne with a headwind and reteracted the flaps. At 200' started a left turn at 70 mph. The a/c was hit… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77267. 51 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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.