# NTSB CEN10CA539: Cessna A185F, N714AL, Rushville, NE, September 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 12, 2010, 19:00 local (Sep 13, 2010, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Rushville, NE - Coordinates: 42.717498, -102.458335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7175&lon=-102.4583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 77308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA539 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77308/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77308 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA539 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the loss of visual reference due to the sun glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: bright light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,010 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing to the west from a grass airstrip during the late afternoon. As the airplane crested an upslope in the runway surface, the pilot lost visual reference with the ground due to the sun glare blinding him. The pilot could not maintain directional control and collided into a rut. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its belly, substantially damaging the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was taking off from an unimproved grass airstrip to the west during the late afternoon. As the airplane crested a rise in the runway the pilot lost visual reference with the ground due to the sun being in his eyes. The pilot could not maintain directional control and struck a rut in the ground. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on its belly, substantially damaging the firewall. The pilot did not indicate there were any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N714AL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504384 - Airframe hours: 4622 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Forney Glen A - Registered owner: Forney Glen A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2010 - Departed: N/A, Rushville, NE - Destination: BFF, Scottsbluff, NE - Airport: N/A, Private Airsttrip, runway 27, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2009; flight hours: 1,400 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20100912044949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100912044949A), Sep 12, 2010: Cessna A185F, Rushville, NE, Substantial damage. At approximately 1900, MST pilot was departing an off-airport field. Take-off run started behind a small hill. As the aircraft cleared the first rise of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77308. 637 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.