- Date
- June 10, 1999, 14:14 local (20:14 UTC)
- Place
- Farmington, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4211CCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 46491
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 inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid a ground obstruction. Factors were the throttle linkage becoming disconnected due to an inadequate annual inspection by maintenance personnel, and a dirt berm.
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.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff, engine power dropped to idle. The pilot made a forced landing in a field 3 miles north of the airport. A mechanic from the airport examined the engine and discovered the throttle cable had become disconnected from the throttle linkage due to looseness of the nut and bolt. While the mechanic made the necessary repairs, the pilot examined the field and determined he had sufficient clearance for take off. After repairs were made, the pilot attempted to take off. As the airplane lifted off, the left main landing gear struck a mound of dirt. The impact sheared the mounting bolt and the left main landing gear fell off the airplane. The pilot flew back to the airport and landed with the airplane coming to rest on its left wing tip.
Factual narrative
On June 10, 1999, at 1414 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N4211C, owned and operated by the State of Colorado's Division of Wildlife, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Farmington, New Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the public use flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, he took off from Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico, en route to Creede, Colorado. Shortly after departure, at an altitude of 600 feet agl, engine power dropped to idle. The pilot made a forced landing in a field 3 miles north of the airport. The time was approximately 1315. A mechanic from the airport examined the engine and discovered the throttle cable had become disconnected from the throttle linkage due to looseness of the nut and bolt. While the mechanic made the necessary repairs, the pilot examined the field and determined he had sufficient clearance for take off. After repairs were made, the pilot attempted to take off. As the airplane lifted off, the left main landing gear struck a mound of dirt. The impact sheared the mounting bolt and the left main landing gear fell off the airplane. The pilot flew to Four Corners Regional Airport, made a low pass, then landed on runway 11 at 1420. The airplane skidded to a halt, coming to rest on its left wing tip.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4211C
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503823
- Airframe hours
- 5,389
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-040B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Colorado Division Of Wildlife
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1999 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- FMN · Farmington, NM
- Destination
- Q39 · Creede, CO
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- FMN · Four Corners Regional, runway 11, 2,783 × 100 ft, dirt
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
- 61
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16,000 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 15,800 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMN