# NTSB ANC87LA157: Cessna 185, N9914X, Little Delta Rv, AK, September 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1987, 20:30 local (Sep 17, 1987, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Little Delta Rv, AK
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4919/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA157

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET AFTER COMMENCING THE TAKE OFF THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO JUST ABOVE TREE TOP LEVEL AND THEN BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO THE TREES. THE PILOT ALSO STATED HE BELIEVES THE AIRPLANE STALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9914X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9914X-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 185-0114, 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: 1850114
- Airframe hours: 2546
- Engines: CONTINENTAL I0-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David Backus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 1987, 70 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 634 total, 198 in this make and model, 527 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870916058929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870916058929A), Sep 16, 1987: Cessna 185, Little Delta Ri, AK, Substantial damage. On takeoff aircraft climbed above tree level then settled and crashed past end of runway. Cause unknown.

## Other investigations on N9914X (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 ANC69D0098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0098), Dec 22, 1968: Cessna 185 (N9914X), Northway, AK, 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.

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