# NTSB LAX04CA278: Cessna A185F, N93DM, Gridley, CA, July 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2004, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Gridley, CA - Coordinates: 39.349578, -121.759429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3496&lon=-121.7594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59755 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59755/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA278 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the rudder to correct for torque and P-factor effects and failure to maintain obstacle clearance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - torque/p-factor - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - rudder - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane veered left until impacting nearby trees seconds after taking off from an airstrip. The pilot had previously departed from the 1,800-foot-long private airstrip, but this was his first departure from the airstrip in the Cessna A185F, which has a 300-horsepower engine. No anomalies were detected with the airplane during the pilot's preflight inspection. The pilot indicated that during the initial climb in the calm wind, he had inadequately applied corrective rudder to compensate for the airplane's left turning tendency (also known as torque/P-factor). ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2004, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N93DM, collided with trees during initial climb from a private airstrip about 1.5 miles northeast of Gridley, California. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact sequence, and it was destroyed in the subsequent ground fire. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a business flight by its owner, the Mariana Nut Company, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had previously taken off from the 1,800-foot-long private airstrip, but this was his first departure from the airstrip in the Cessna A185F, which has a 300-horsepower engine. No anomalies were detected with the airplane during the preflight inspection. The wind was calm during takeoff, and seconds after becoming airborne the airplane drifted left. The pilot reported that he likely did not adequately apply corrective rudder, and he allowed the airplane to veer left until impacting trees, which were located near the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93DM-2017-04-18), registration cancelled 2017-04-18, S/N 18503667, 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: 18503667 - Engines: Continental IO-520-DB4 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Mariani Nut Company, Inc. - Registered owner: Mariani Nut Co., Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Gridley, CA - Destination: 2Q3, Yolo, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 808 total, 139 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040724018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040724018829A), Jul 24, 2004: Cessna A185F, Biggs, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated that he was taking off from an orchard landing strip on his farm near Biggs, CA. He selected three notches of flaps and applied full power.… ## Other investigations on N93DM (1) 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 ATL82DA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA180), Jun 29, 1982: Cessna 185 (N93DM), Scooba, MS, 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.