- Date
- July 14, 1990, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Discovery Bay, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N888BLCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900714025879A
- Case key
- 26868
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 improper visual lookout to assure the area was clear of boats before departing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was departing Discovery Bay on a personal flight. During the takeoff roll after reaching an indicated airspeed of 70 mph, the pilot observed oncoming boats and abruptly pulled back on the control wheel effecting a premature liftoff. The airplane rapidly raised into the air and stalled. Before departing the pilot failed to adequately look out to see if the area was clear of boats.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N888BL
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503257
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richardson, John
- Registered owner
- Richardson, John R
- Destination
- Lake Shasta, CA
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 191 total · 38 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.