- Date
- September 4, 2008, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeview, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N185ZZCessna A185F
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080904844909A
- Case key
- 68891
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. A contributing factor was the rough terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During takeoff from a washboard surfaced dirt road in a tail wheel equipped airplane, the pilot failed to maintain directional control. As the pilot was attempting to regain control of the airplane, it drifted off the left side of the road and struck several large rocks, which resulted in the collapse of one of the main landing gear legs. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was structural damage to the empennage and left wing. No anomalies were noted with the airplanes flight controls or tail wheel steering system.
Factual narrative
During takeoff from a washboard surfaced dirt road in a tail wheel equipped airplane, the pilot failed to maintain directional control. As the pilot was attempting to regain control of the airplane, it drifted off the left side of the road and struck several large rocks, which resulted in the collapse of one of the main landing gear legs. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was structural damage to the empennage and left wing. No anomalies were noted with the airplanes flight controls or tail wheel steering system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N185ZZ
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18504141
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Operator
- State of Oregon
- Registered owner
- State of Oregon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Lakeview, OR
- Destination
- Lakeview, OR
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
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 7,950 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.