- Date
- April 7, 2013, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cottonwood, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2303YCessna A185E
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 86660
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 see and avoid an object on the grass airstrip during the takeoff.
Findings · 3
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
The pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll from the private grass airstrip, the airplane’s left main tire and the tailwheel struck a rock that was partially hidden by the tall grass. The pilot continued the takeoff, proceeded to the destination airport, and landed uneventfully. After landing, the rudder was found substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll from the private grass airstrip, the left main tire followed by the tailwheel, struck a rock that was partially hidden by the tall grass. The pilot continued the takeoff, proceeded to his destination and landed uneventfully. After landing, the airplane was examined and the rudder was found substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2303Y
- Reported as
- Cessna A185E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 185-01868
- Airframe hours
- 4,182
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 13, 2013 · 26 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Cottonwood, ID
- Destination
- LWS · Lewiston, ID
- Airport
- PVT · Private, Personal Airstrip
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 7, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,241 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.62 inHg
- Observed at
- LWS, 25 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.
Other investigations on N2303Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.