# NTSB DEN84LA263: Cessna 185, N1980U, Akron, CO, August 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1984, 13:19 local (19:19 UTC)
- Place: Akron, CO
- Coordinates: 40.160938, -103.210365 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1609&lon=-103.2104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16465
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16465/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA263

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS APRX 200 LBS UNDER MAX GROSS WEIGHT FOR THE TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT ALL OF HIS PREVIOUS TAKEOFFS HAD BEEN AT NEAR SEA LEVEL. HE STATED THAT HE WAS NOT USED TO HIGH DENSITY TAKEOFFS SUCH AS THIS ONE (7011 FEET DENSITY ALTITUDE). THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED APRX THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY INTO 'A LITTLE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE', CLIMBED TO 100 FT AGL WHEN THE GEAR WAS RAISED AND THE FLAPS WERE RAISED TO 10 DEGREES. AT THIS POINT IT BEGAN TO SETTLE BACK DOWN AND STALLED AT APRX 15 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1980U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1980U-2013-12-13), registration cancelled 2013-12-13, S/N 18501725, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-01725
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Larry Steele
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 15, 1984, 30 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AKO, Akron, runway 9, 4,100 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 11 in this make and model, 140 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AKO

## 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 19840822042799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840822042799A), Aug 22, 1984: Cessna A185E, Akron, CO, Substantial damage. Made nose high early liftoff and initial climb. Aircraft stalled when amphibious gear and flaps retracted. Flipped.

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.