- Date
- March 9, 2014, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Eden Prairie, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4764BCessna 185
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20140309001879A
- Case key
- 88899
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 loss of directional control during takeoff with a gusty crosswind.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While attempting to takeoff with a left crosswind of 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, the pilot began the takeoff roll with 1/2 throttle. He then advanced the throttle to full forward and pushed the control yoke forward to lift the tail. The airplane began to veer to the left with insufficient airspeed to lift off from the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff and applied brakes. However, the airplane continued forward and collided with a snow bank, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. In addition, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented had he kept the tailwheel in contact with the runway longer and/or departed on a runway better aligned with the wind.
Factual narrative
While attempting to takeoff with a left crosswind of 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, the pilot began the takeoff roll with 1/2 throttle. He then advanced the throttle to full forward and pushed the control yoke forward to lift the tail. The airplane began to veer to the left with insufficient airspeed to lift off from the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff and applied brakes. However, the airplane continued forward and collided with a snow bank, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. In addition, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented had he kept the tailwheel in contact with the runway longer and/or departed on a runway better aligned with the wind.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4764B
- Reported as
- Cessna 185 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503371
- Built
- 1977
- Airframe hours
- 3,750
- Engine
- Continental Motors IO-520-D, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 7, 2013 · 38 hours before
- Departed
- FCM · Eden Prairie, MN
- Destination
- Waconia, MN
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FCM · Flying Cloud, runway 28R, 3,900 × 75 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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 21, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 258 total · 41 in this make and model · 178 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KFCM
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.