# NTSB WPR18LA263: Cessna A185, N573BV, Bullhead City, AZ, September 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 15, 2018, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Bullhead City, AZ - Coordinates: 35.124168, -114.530555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1242&lon=-114.5306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA-FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 98311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA263 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98311/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98311 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA263 ## Probable cause The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a collision with rising terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline, and he made a “radical” correction to get back on course. After departing the runway, during the initial climb, he entered information into the fuel totalizer, and when he looked up momentarily, the airplane was in a left bank with rising terrain and powerlines ahead. Realizing that impact was imminent, the pilot added one notch of flaps and kept the wings level. The airplane impacted the ground near a ravine, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported, and postaccident examination confirmed, no anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot’s diverted attention during the initial climb resulted in impact with terrain. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2018, about 1245 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F airplane, N573BV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona. The pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane was left of centerline, and he made a “radical” correction to get back on course. After departing the runway, during the initial climb, he entered information into the fuel totalizer, and when he looked up momentarily, the airplane was in a left bank with rising terrain and powerlines ahead of the airplane. Realizing that impact was imminent, the pilot added one notch of flaps and kept the wings level. The airplane impacted the ground near a ravine, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported, and postaccident examination confirmed, no anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N573BV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N573BV-2021-01-01), registration cancelled 2021-01-01, S/N 18502177, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185 (F) - 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: 18502177 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2798.5 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-D-23-B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2018, 2,780 hours before - Departed: IFP, Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Airport: IFP, Laughlin/Bullhead Intl, runway 16, 8,500 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,400 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KIFP, 4 nm away ## 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 20180915013719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180915013719A), Sep 15, 2018: Cessna A185F, Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft impacted terrain shortly after departure from ifp airport. The pilot and single passenger sustained serious injuries and were transported to a… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98311. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13343661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-pilot/owner (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Pilot%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-faa iic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18LA263%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Cmi exam notes (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CMI%20Exam%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Fuel receipt (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085094&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N573BV%20POS%20LC%20Fuel%20Ticket%20-%20For%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-cmi (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Form-CMI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation-textron aviation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form-TA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13085104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18LA263%20Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form%202015-signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.