# NTSB NYC07CA097: Cessna A185F, N4756E, Ashland, ME, April 14, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 14, 2007, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Ashland, ME
- Coordinates: 46.516944, -69.118614
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5169&lon=-69.1186&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65597/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA097

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while taxiing, which resulted in a nose over.  A factor in this accident was the frozen, slush covered lake.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - terrain condition - water,frozen (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, taxi
  - terrain condition - slush covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot landed the Cessna A185F, which was equipped with skis, on a frozen slush covered lake without incident.  The pilot stated that the airplane required a lot of engine power to taxi.  While taxiing, the pilot felt a slight bump, and initiated a left turn, which required additional engine power.  The tail of the airplane quickly shifted to the right.  The pilot immediately applied right rudder and pulled the power back; however, the right ski sunk into the slush, and the airplane nosed over onto the right wing.  Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.  The pilot reported 1,924 hours of total flight experience, which included about 1,660 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot landed the Cessna A185F, which was equipped with skis, on a frozen slush covered lake without incident.  The pilot stated that the airplane required a lot of engine power to taxi.  While taxiing, the pilot felt a slight bump, and initiated a left turn, which required additional engine power.  The tail of the airplane quickly shifted to the right.  The pilot immediately applied right rudder and pulled the power back; however, the right ski sunk into the slush, and the airplane nosed over onto the right wing.  Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.  The pilot reported 1,924 hours of total flight experience, which included about 1,660 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4756E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4756E), registered now, S/N 18503862, built 1979 (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: 18503862
- Airframe hours: 6364
- Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use
- Registered owner: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2007
- Departed: NONE, Eagle Lake, ME
- Destination: Ashland, ME
- Airport: NONE, None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,924 total, 1,658 in this make and model, 1,824 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: PQI

## 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 20070414015019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070414015019A), Apr 14, 2007: Cessna A185F, Wells, ME, Minor damage. (-23) 04/14/07. Aircraft departed at about 1215 from the Maine warden service base on eagle lake, Maine. Aircraft is operated by the Maine dept. Of inland…

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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