- Date
- May 3, 2011, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- Ocean City, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6389ECessna A185F
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110503008539A
- Case key
- 79025
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 failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was attempting to take off from runway 24. Approximately 200 feet down the runway he prematurely lifted the tailwheel of his airplane and lost directional control. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and struck a runway light. The right main gear separated from the airplane and the right wing collided with the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The nearest airport's weather observation system reported wind from 170 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots, at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was attempting to take off from runway 24. Approximately 200 feet down the runway on takeoff roll he prematurely lifted the tail wheel of his airplane, and lost directional control. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway and struck a runway light. The right main gear separated from the airplane, and the right wing collided with the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The nearest airport's weather observation system reported wind from 170 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6389E
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18504037
- Airframe hours
- 2,310
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Plumbo Victor Gaston
- Registered owner
- Plumbo Victor Gaston
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 26N · Ocean City, NJ
- Destination
- 26N · Ocean City, NJ
- Airport
- 26N · Ocean City Municipal, runway 24, 2,973 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 82
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 260 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- ACY, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 15 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.