- Date
- July 23, 1998, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5892TCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980723017049A
- Case key
- 43539
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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
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 just after receiving a clearance for takeoff, a request was made by the tower operator to 'expedite' the departure due to inbound traffic. The pilot said that during the departure roll, and as the airplane was nearing takeoff speed, the airplane veered uncontrollably to the left, went off the left side of the runway, and ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing and aileron struck the ground, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On July 23, 1998, about 1305 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N5892T, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Kenai Municipal Airport, Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the three passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was returning to Anchorage, Alaska, where it had departed about 0930.
In his written statement to the NTSB dated July 29, 1998, the pilot reported that just after receiving a clearance for takeoff, the tower operator requested that he "expedite" the departure due to inbound traffic. He said that during the departure roll, and as the airplane was nearing takeoff speed, the airplane veered uncontrollably to the left, went off the left side of the runway, and ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right wing, and aileron struck the ground and sustained substantial damage.
The closest official weather observation station is Kenai. On July 23, 1998, at 1247, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 017 degrees (magnetic) at 5 knots; visibility, 70 statute miles; clouds, 4,000 feet scattered, 1,500 feet broken; temperature, 66 degrees F; dew point, 46 degrees F; altimeter, 29.76 inHg.
The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5892T
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-0792
- Airframe hours
- 5,299
- Engine
- Continental IO-470F, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Martin W. Carlson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 1998 · 38 hours before
- Destination
- ANC · Anchorage, AK
- Airport
- ENA · Kenai, runway 1, 7,575 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 52
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 19,000 total · 118 in this make and model · 8,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 17° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAE
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 N5892T · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.