# NTSB FTW84LA345: Cessna A185F, N802DM, Tomball, TX, August 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1984, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Tomball, TX
- Coordinates: 30.089752, -95.60913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0898&lon=-95.6091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA345
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21423/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA345

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lift-off - not attained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF 2 PAXS BOARDED SO THE INSTRUCTOR COULD DEMONSTRATE TO THE STUDENT THE EFFECT THAT ADDITIONAL WEIGHT HAS ON ACFT HANDLING ON WATER. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR THE ACFT WOULD NOT BECOME AIRBORNE DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE WATERWAY, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND ONTO A LAND MASS WHERE IT NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT STARTED THETAKEOFF RUN AND THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT LIFTING OFF. THE WATERWAY WAS 2600 FT LONG. TAILWIND OF 5 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N802DM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504006
- Airframe hours: 1793
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mort Hall Avn.
- Registered owner: Diamond M. Drilling Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DWH, TOMBALL, TX
- Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 17, 2,600 × 100 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,756 total, 33 in this make and model, 3,528 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19840812040009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840812040009A), Aug 12, 1984: Cessna A185F, Tomball, TX, Destroyed. Unable to lift off waterway with full load, smooth water and downwind. Aborted late. Ran onto shore and nosed over.

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.

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