Cessna 185 N9563H

Summary

On 4 September 2002 at about 02:30 local time, a Cessna 185 registered N9563H was involved in an accident near Pilot Point, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 September 2002 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pilot Point, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

57.5667, -157.0167

Aircraft

Cessna 185

Registration

N9563H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pilot Point → King Salmon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA114

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for P-factor, and his failure to abort the takeoff which resulted in a collision with trees during the takeoff initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing a narrow river channel in a float-equipped airplane with a right crosswind of about 15 knots. The airplane was on-step, and the pilot attempted a step turn to the right to remain in the river channel. The pilot said that due to "P" factor, he was unable to turn to the right. He said that the river area ahead of the departure path ended at the river bank. He lowered the flaps and rotated the airplane into a climb attitude to avoid colliding with the bank. With an airspeed of about 50 knots, the pilot said he "hopped" the airplane over the river bank, but the tails of the floats collided with several trees. The airplane settled into the trees and received damage to the float assemblies and the wings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.