- Date
- July 24, 2006, 07:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place
- Cove, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N477GCessna 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20060724017859A
- Case key
- 64480
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 failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Factors include wet grass and trees.
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
In a written statement the pilot reported, "About 500 ft. down the runway was a dogleg to the right. I had lined up somewhat to the left in order to mitigate the turn to the right. At approximately 40 miles [per] hour the aircraft started drifting toward the left on the wet grass. There didn't seem to be any rudder control and there was absolutely no braking on the wet grass. I pulled off the power and I was standing on the right brake when the left wing contacted some small brush and aspen trees." The Minam Lodge Airport (7OR0) is located in mountainous terrain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. The airport elevation is 3,589 feet above sea level, and has a single turf runway. The runway is 2,000 feet long and 40 feet wide.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 2006, about 0755 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185, N477G, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff at the Minam Lodge Airstrip, Cove, Oregon. The airplane was registered to the pilot and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the one passenger aboard the airplane were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot's planned destination was McCall, Idaho. No flight plan had been filed.
In a written statement dated September 9, the pilot reported, "About 500 ft. down the runway was a dogleg to the right. I had lined up somewhat to the left in order to mitigate the turn to the right. At approximately 40 miles an [per] hour the aircraft started drifting toward the left on the wet grass. There didn't seem to be any rudder control and there was absolutely no braking on the wet grass. I pulled off the power and I was standing on the right brake when the left wing contacted some small brush and aspen trees."
The Minam Lodge Airport (7OR0) is located in mountainous terrain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. The airport elevation is 3,589 feet above sea level, and has a single turf runway. The runway is 2,000 feet long and 40 feet wide.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N477G
- Reported as
- Cessna 185
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18504244
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Tim Whitney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cove, OR
- Destination
- MYL · Mc Call, ID
- Airport
- 7OR0 · Minam Lodge, runway N, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16,052 total · 890 in this make and model · 47 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.