- Date
- September 20, 1984, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Peck, MT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- CGZWQCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 16241
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
On ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Terrain condition - water,rough
Judgment - poorCause
Overconfidence in personal abilityFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedCause
Overconfidence in aircraft's abilityFactor
Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid
Loss of control - on ground/water
Nose over
Analysis
Plt attempted to takeoff from a calm part of reservoir. The wave heights were estimated to be 4 to 6 feet. The arft struck several waves during the takeoff run. The rt wing tip dragged in the water causing the acft to nose over. The acft came to rest inverted, partially submerged. The plt pulled his son and daughter from the acft before he drowned.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGZWQ
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-03506
- Airframe hours
- 2,131
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Anthony R. Baron
- Registered owner
- Sally Williams Young Air Serv
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 18, 1984 · 50 hours before
- Destination
- MSO · Missoula, MT
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 786 total · 786 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GGW, 10 nm away