# NTSB SEA04CA138: Cessna A185F, N185S, Cut Bank, MT, July 16, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 16, 2004, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Cut Bank, MT
- Coordinates: 48.649185, -112.840148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6492&lon=-112.8401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59703/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA138

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

In a written statement the pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane "quickly left the runway to the left and flipped on it's back."  According to the pilot, the winds at the time of the accident were favoring runway 23 at an estimated speed of six knots.  The pilot was departing on runway 23 when the accident occurred.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 2004, at 1115 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N185S, sustained substantial damage during the takeoff roll at the Cut Bank Municipal Airport, Cut Bank, Montana (CTB).  The airplane is owned by the pilot and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The commercial pilot and passenger aboard the airplane were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been filed for the proposed cross-country flight.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, dated July 20, the pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane "quickly left the runway to the left and flipped on it's back."

According to the pilot, the winds at the time of the accident were favoring runway 23 at an estimated speed of six knots.

The pilot was departing on runway 23 when the accident occurred.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N185S), registered now, S/N 18503230, built 1976 (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: 18503230
- Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Glorice P. Wills
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CTB, Cut Bank, MT
- Destination: MLS, MILES CITY, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CTB, Cut Bank Muni, runway 23, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 6,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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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