# NTSB ANC14CA077: Cessna 185, N432X, Gakona, AK, September 7, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2014, 17:00 local (Sep 7, 2014, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Gakona, AK
- Coordinates: 62.785278, -144.373611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7853&lon=-144.3736&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Anchorage FSDO 3
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90063/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90063
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA077

## Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the airplane's main landing gear tire deflated during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: tire casing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 185, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was taking off from a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that during takeoff, the left main landing gear tire deflated, the airplane swerved to the left and clipped a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and tail.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was taking off from a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that during takeoff, the left main landing gear tire deflated, the airplane swerved to the left and clipped a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and tail.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N432X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432X-2018-05-14), registration cancelled 2018-05-14, S/N 1850129, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 (F)
- 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: 1850129
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 3991
- Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Copper Valley Air Service LLC
- Registered owner: Copper Valley Air Service LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 10, 2014
- Departed: Gakona, AK
- Destination: GKN, GULKANA, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 28,000 total, 999,999 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: PAGK, 48 nm away

## 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 20140906016079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140906016079A), Sep 6, 2014: Cessna 185, Chistochina, AK, Substantial damage. The PIC of the accident airplane stated he was attempting to take off from a remote dirt runway (indian valley strip) which is 1100' long and oriented…

## Other investigations on N432X (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 ANC13CA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA108), Sep 7, 2013: Cessna 185 (N432X), Mentasta Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90063. 406 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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