# NTSB ERA22LA300: Cessna A185F, N2423A, Plymouth, CT, July 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2022, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, CT - Coordinates: 41.63343, -73.046774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6334&lon=-73.0468&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA300 ## Probable cause The pilot’s encounter with known and forecast adverse weather which resulted in a collision with trees during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot described the takeoff from the 2,000 ft-long turf runway surrounded by tall trees. He stated the airplane was making “takeoff power” and that all instruments were “in the green.” At the departure end of the runway the airplane encountered “windshear or a downdraft” and that the leaves in the treetops were being “pushed down.” The 6,000-hour pilot said he had never encountered windshear or a downdraft like it before. He said he adjusted the pitch attitude to best angle of climb, but that the airplane settled into the trees and descended to the ground while substantially damaging the wings, fuselage, and the empennage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site discussed the forecast and PIREPS for low-level windshear with the pilot. The pilot said he had reviewed the weather, but as it was “nothing he hadn’t flown in before,” he elected to depart. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2423A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2423A), registered now, S/N 18504225 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504225 - Airframe hours: 6191 - Engines: Continental IO520D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hutter Charles G - Registered owner: Hutter Charles G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2021, 14 hours before - Destination: KWST, Westerly, RI - Airport: N41, Waterbury, runway 17, 2,005 × 135 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; private, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 7,400 total, 400 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KOXC, 10 nm away - METAR: KOXC 051651Z 20008G15KT 10SM CLR 27/15 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02670150 ## 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 20220705011929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220705011929A), Jul 5, 2022: Cessna A185F, Plymouth, CT, Substantial damage. On July 5, 2022 N2423A, CE-185 tailwheel aircraft, departed N41 Waterbury grass airstrip enroute to kwst westerly airport, single soul on board. The airman… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105428. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291478&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20C%20Hutter_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Charles%20Hutter-Rel.pdf - Meteorology memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Meteorology-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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.