- Date
- August 17, 2018, 21:30 local (Aug 18, 2018, 05:30 UTC)
- Place
- Big Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N185MCCessna A185
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180817014389A
- Case key
- 98106
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 clearance from tree foliage on the left side of the runway during takeoff due to his focus on the right side of the runway.
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, during the takeoff roll to the southeast on a private airstrip, about 120 ft down the runway, the left wing struck some tree foliage. The airplane veered left, exited the runway, and impacted trees. He added that he was watching the right side of the runway for a swale and was not paying attention to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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 reported that, during the takeoff roll to the southeast on a private airstrip, about 120 ft down the runway, the left wing struck some tree foliage. The airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and impacted trees. He added that he was watching the right side of the runway for a swale and was not paying attention to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N185MC
- Reported as
- Cessna A185 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503347
- Built
- 1978
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 44AK · Big Lake, AK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 44AK · West Papoose Lake Airpark, runway 11, 1,600 × 50 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 2,900 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- PAWS, 13 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 537 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.