# NTSB ANC21LA053: Cessna 185, N185YT, Kenney Lake, AK, July 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2021, 22:45 local (Jul 6, 2021, 06:45 UTC)
- Place: Kenney Lake, AK
- Coordinates: 61.7318, -144.9436
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7318&lon=-144.9436&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103436
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103436/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103436
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA053

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a tree during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); 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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 185, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, just after takeoff from a remote off-airport landing site, the airplane’s left wing impacted a small sapling tree which resulted in a loss of directional control. The pilot attempted to correct for the loss of control to no avail. The airplane subsequently impacted a stand of trees sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185YT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185YT), registered now, S/N 185-0145 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna 185](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185) (registry code 2072802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-0145
- Airframe hours: 6453.2
- Engines: Continental IO-550 D20B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 2021
- Destination: McCarthy, AK
- Airport: PVT, Private
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 14, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,857.4 total, 647 in this make and model, 1,838.2 as pilot in command, 55.4 in the last 90 days, 23.9 in the last 30 days, 3.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: PAGK, 31 nm away
- METAR: PAGK 060553Z AUTO 16012KT 10SM FEW070 FEW090 SCT110 16/05 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP150 60000 T01610050 10222 20161 55006 TSNO

## 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 20210705012679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210705012679A), Jul 5, 2021: Cessna 185, Kenny Lake, AK, Destroyed. N185YT, C185, aircraft took off from a grass strip and the left wing got caught in some trees which pulled the aircraft into the trees. POB: 1, injuries: none,…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103436. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12924268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20dms_Redacted-Rel%20(17)-Rel.pdf
- Photo (source unknown) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12476208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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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