# NTSB CHI02LA141: Cessna A185E, N4747Q, Grand Marais, MN, May 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2002, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Marais, MN - Coordinates: 47.74958, -90.339103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7496&lon=-90.3391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54760/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54760 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot displayed inadequate compensation for the wind conditions that existed at the time of the accident and directional control was not maintained. A factor associated with the accident was the crosswind weather condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - not successful, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - remedial action - not successful, pilot in command - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over at the edge of the runway following a loss of directional control. The pilot reported that on takeoff the aircraft was struck by a gust of wind from the left side, forcing the tail to the right. The pilot stated that he applied full right rudder and partial brake an attempt to return the tail to centerline. The remedial action was unsuccessful and the pilot stated that he attempted to get airborne sensing an imminent ground loop. The pilot reported that another gust of wind shifted the airplane tail to the right, despite the use of full right rudder and considerable right brake. He stated that the right wingtip impacted the runway and the aircraft went toward the left side of the runway where the propeller struck the runway surface. According to the pilot, the propeller then hit the ground at the edge of the runway and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2002, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N4747Q, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the pilot experienced a loss of directional control on takeoff and nosed over at the edge of the runway. The takeoff was being conducted on runway 27 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, dry, asphalt) at the Grand Marais Cook County Airport (CKC), Grand Marais, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole person on board, reported no injuries. The flight to Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), Minneapolis, Minnesota, was originating at the time of the accident. According to a written statement by the pilot, the preflight and run-up were uneventful. The pilot reported that during the back taxi, full left rudder inputs were required to keep the tailwheel aircraft on the centerline. He stated that he turned the aircraft into the wind by applying left brake; only modest right brake pressure was required at that time to rotate the tail. The pilot reported that he announced his departure intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and advanced the throttle fully for takeoff. The pilot recalled that approximately 20 feet into the takeoff roll the aircraft was struck by a gust of wind from the left side, forcing the tail from the centerline to the right. The pilot reported, "full right rudder was applied which partially slowed the swinging tail, but did not return the tail to centerline. Partial brake was also applied on the right side, which also failed to center the tail. Sensing an imminent ground loop, the aircraft tail was raised in attempt to get airborne. At this time, the aircraft was again struck by a gust of wind, which again sent the tail to the right, despite the pressure of full right rudder and considerable right brake." The pilot stated that the right wingtip impacted the runway, moving the aircraft in a left arc toward the left side of the runway. Full right brake was applied with no effect. The pilot reported the propeller struck the runway surface approximately five to ten yards from the edge of the runway. The propeller then struck the dirt at the edge of the runway, stopping forward movement and the aircraft nosed over. The wind was reported to be 210 degrees and 13 knots gusting to 22 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4747Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4747Q), registered now, S/N 185-1201 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1201 - Airframe hours: 5847.3 - Engines: Continental IO-520 D9B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce Christian Trautman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002, 18.9 hours before - Departed: CKC, Grand Marais, MN - Destination: FCM, Flying Cloud, MN - Airport: CKC, Grand Marais, Cook County, runway 27, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 27, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,006 total, 922 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.46 inHg - Observed at: CKC ## 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 20020523012529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020523012529A), May 23, 2002: Cessna A185E, Grand Marais, MN, No damage. (-23) During taxi out in preparation for take off the pilot became aware of strong crosswind conditions. During the take off roll on runway 27 the pilot did… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54760. 382 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.