# NTSB WPR23LA054: Cessna A185F, N926HM, Fergus Falls, MN, December 4, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 4, 2022, 10:15, time zone not recorded
- Place: Fergus Falls, MN · KFFM
- Coordinates: 46.16, -96.09
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1600&lon=-96.0900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106424/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106424
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA054

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the left edge of the runway. Corrective action was attempted, however the airplane encountered ice off the side of the runway preventing recovery. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right-side lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N926HM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926HM), registered now, S/N 18502422, built 1974 (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-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-d) (registry code 17236, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502422
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 2434
- Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2022
- Destination: KPUB, Pueblo, CO
- Airport: FFM, Fergus Falls Municipal Airport, runway 31, 5,639 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,275 total, 32 in this make and model, 2,275 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 2995.00 inHg
- Observed at: KFFM
- METAR: KFFM 041515Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM CLR M10/M13 A2995

## 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 20221204018269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221204018269A), Dec 4, 2022: Cessna A185F, Fergus Falls, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot in command (PIC) attempted a take-off from runway 31 at Fergus Falls municipal airport in an aircraft he had just purchased. (PIC declined an…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106424. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14834538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA054_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 884 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14834713&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA054_508-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.

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