- Date
- November 8, 1993, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chefornak, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N185FKCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19931108046169A
- Case key
- 2473
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to adequately compensate for the gusty cross wind condition. A factor in the accident was the wind gust.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while performing a takeoff from runway 16 with an easterly wind at 25 knots gusting to 35 knots, the airplane suddenly veered about 45 degrees to the left. The plane did not respond to corrective inputs and the right wing struck the runway.
Factual narrative
On November 8, 1993, at 1400 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N185FK, crashed during takeoff from runway 15 at Chefornak Airport, Alaska. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CRR Part 135 all cargo scheduled commuter flight last departed Kipnuk, Alaska, and the destination was Chefornak. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was in effect.
The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff roll a gust of wind raised the left wing causing the right wing to strike the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N185FK
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18502513
- Airframe hours
- 1,808
- Engine
- Continental IO-520D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Hageland Aviation Services
- Registered owner
- Hageland Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 16, 1993 · 44 hours before
- Destination
- Toksook Bay, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- Z74 · Chefornak, runway 16, 2,600 × 40 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 260 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N185FK · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.