# NTSB FTW95LA073: Cessna A185F, N8389Q, Erie, CO, December 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 23, 1994, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.019355, -105.040214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0194&lon=-105.0402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19327/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA073 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL. ## 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 - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A CLIMB. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DESCEND TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ALONG THE RUNWAY SEVERAL TIMES AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST ON A TAXIWAY. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT AFTER THE LAST BOUNCE 'THE NOSE DROPPED' AND THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. ## Factual narrative On December 23, 1994, at 1245 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N8389Q, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private airport near Erie, Colorado. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. There was no flight plan filed. In the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that he "steadily increased back pressure on the yoke and the aircraft started to climb. At approximately 10 feet above ground level, the aircraft did not appear able to sustain flight. The aircraft then bounced along the runway a number of times and directional control was lost." A passenger reported that the "engine sounded fine as we began our take-off roll. We left the runway and rose to approximately 10 feet and then sank back to the runway. We settled on the runway and climbed back into the air to approximately 20 feet and descended again. This time we hit as though we had made a hard landing and went back into the air to about 50 feet. At this point it seemed as if the nose dropped and we were approaching the runway...at a steep angle." A witness also reported seeing the aircraft in an "unusual attitude--nose high, tail low" and striking the runway several times before it came to rest on a taxiway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8389Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8389Q-2003-05-28), registration cancelled 2003-05-28, S/N 18503678, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503678 - Airframe hours: 1478 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D40B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: D. Galloway & R. Richardson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1994, 178 hours before - Destination: 3V5, FORT COLLINS, CO - Airport: 7O0, Parkland, runway 8, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 474 total, 398 in this make and model, 372 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °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 19941223042149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941223042149A), Dec 23, 1994: Cessna A185F, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised trying to climb. Lost directional control. Stalled. Impacted nose first. Stopped nose down. ## Other investigations on N8389Q (3) 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. - [NTSB DEN90LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA134), Jun 13, 1990: Cessna A185F (N8389Q), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION TO CHOOSE SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. - [NTSB DEN88LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA105), Apr 30, 1988: Cessna 185F (N8389Q), Erie, CO, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN80FTE20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTE20), Jan 17, 1980: Cessna A185F (N8389Q), Colorado Spgs, CO, substantial damage 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.