- Date
- January 12, 2018, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lowman, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2WCessna A185
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180112000719A
- Case key
- 96618
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 selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Findings · 4
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a snow-covered airstrip, the left wheel encountered a "foot deep snow bank." The airplane veered left and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff on a snow-covered airstrip, the left wheel encountered a "foot deep snow bank". The airplane veered left and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2W
- Reported as
- Cessna A185 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-02982
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 3,118.6
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-DI3B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 10, 2017
- Departed
- 0U1 · Lowman, ID
- Destination
- MAN · Nampa, ID
- Airport
- 0U1 · Warm Springs Creek, runway 20, 2,850 × 135 ft, snow
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 6, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 540.4 total · 40.5 in this make and model · 462 as pilot in command · 12.5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.29 inHg
- Observed at
- KSNT, 17 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.4 MB 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.