# NTSB CHI97LA002: Cessna 185, N185ND, Finley, ND, October 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1996, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Finley, ND - Coordinates: 47.509254, -97.83023 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5093&lon=-97.8302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10471 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10471/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA002 ## Probable cause failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure that clearance from the dock was maintained, while starting to taxi. The crosswind was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was parked on shore near a dock. The flight instructor (CFI) reported that after starting the engine, the airplane began to move forward, and the wing strut and wing cleared the dock. After the wing cleared the dock, the instructor began to lower the water rudders, and the tail of the airplane began moving toward the dock. A right crosswind was present during the departure from the shore. The instructor reported that full left rudder with the water rudders partially extended was ineffective in stopping the horizontal stabilizer of the airplane from hitting the dock. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1996, at 0815 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 185, N185ND, sustained substantial damage when the airplane's horizontal stabilizer collided with a dock. The airplane was taxiing for takeoff, on Golden Lake, near Finley, North Dakota, when the accident occurred. The flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight instructor reported on NTSB form 6120.1/2 that the airplane was parked on the shore near the dock. Before departing the shore the instructor reported that she and the student discussed the departure, and believed that distance between the dock and the airplane did not appear to present a problem during departure. The instructor reported that after starting the airplane's engine the airplane began to move forward, and the wing strut and wing cleared the dock. After clearing the dock with the wing the instructor reported that she began to lower the water rudders, and the tail of the airplane began moving towards the dock. The diagram included with the report shows that the aircraft was experiencing a right crosswind during the departure from shore. The instructor reported that full left rudder with the water rudders partially extended was ineffective in stopping the horizontal of the airplane from hitting the dock. The pilot did not report any airplane or engine malfunctions. The airplane's horizontal stabilizer required replacement, following the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185ND), registered now, S/N 18504369, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504369 - Airframe hours: 2124 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: University Of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1996, 41 hours before - Departed: GFK, GRAND FORKS, ND - Destination: GOLDEN LAKE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,415 total, 16 in this make and model, 2,344 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GFK ## 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 19961003030839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961003030839A), Oct 3, 1996: Cessna A185F, Finley, ND, Substantial damage. While pulling away from the dock, left horizontal stabilizer struck the dock. (-23) single-engine seaplane instruction was being conducted at golden lake, ND.… 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.