# NTSB LAX98LA003: Cessna 185F, N17SR, Oakland, CA, October 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1997, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Oakland, CA - Coordinates: 37.769794, -122.209579 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7698&lon=-122.2096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29971/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose down, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis On the initial takeoff roll on runway 33, the pilot lifted the tail of the aircraft and was struck by a crosswind gust that caused the left wing to be lifted off the ground. The right wing struck the pavement. The pilot pulled back on the throttle, but the aircraft continued to depart the left side of the runway and came to rest in a nose down position. The winds at the time were from 290 degrees at 13 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1997 at 1115 hours Pacific daylight time, the right wing of a Cessna 185F, N17SR, contacted runway 33, the aircraft veered left and came to rest nose down at the Oakland, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed to Modesto, California. The pilot reported that the tower had cleared him for takeoff on runway 33. He said he started the initial takeoff roll and lifted the tail of the aircraft, then a gust of wind caused the right wing tip to strike the pavement. At this point the plane veered left, and the pilot pulled back on the throttle. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway and came to rest in a nose down position. The winds at the time of the accident were from 290 degrees at 13 knots. An FAA inspector established on-scene that there were no mechanical anomalies noted with the aircraft or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17SR), registered now, S/N 18502424, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 185F - 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: 185-02424 - Airframe hours: 2218 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sheldon C. Ramsay - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 1997, 29 hours before - Destination: MOD, MODESTO, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: OAK, Metro Oakland Intl, runway 33, 3,366 × 33 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 223 total, 28 in this make and model, 63 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 13 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OAK ## 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 19971005029979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971005029979A), Oct 5, 1997: Cessna A185F, Oakland, CA, Substantial damage. Wind gust hit 185 on takeoff roll. Dragged a wing aborted. Ground looped nosed down off runway. No anomalies. (.19) dragged right wingtip. Veered left and came… ## Other investigations on N17SR (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 GAA16CA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA260), May 25, 2016: Cessna A185 (N17SR), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop. 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.