# NTSB LAX79DA089: Cessna 185, N8845Q, Tunnel Meadows, CA, September 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 24, 1979
- Place: Tunnel Meadows, CA · TUNNEL MEADOWS, CA
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 31, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DA089
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DA089

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2920  79/9/24    TUNNEL MEADOWS,CA   CESSNA 185          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1205                    N8845Q              PX-  0  0  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 36, 1870 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            270 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TUNNEL AIR CAMP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUNNEL MEADOWS,CA           LONE PINE,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      58
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- WIND SHIFTED FROM WEST TO EAST DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. PEAK GUSTS TO 25 KTS.D/A APRX 11,400FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8845Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8845Q), registered now, S/N 18503776, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 185
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Tunnel Air Camp

## 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 19790924035549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790924035549A), Sep 24, 1979: Cessna 185, Tunnel Meadows, CA, Substantial damage. Unable to climb after takeoff due to wind shift. Aborted, landed in rough ground off end runway.

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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