Cessna A185 N185MC

Summary

On 18 August 2018 at about 05:30 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N185MC was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

18 August 2018 at 05:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Lake, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

West Papoose Lake Airpark (44AK)

Coordinates

61.5333, -150.1022

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N185MC

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Lake → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA496

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tree foliage on the left side of the runway during takeoff due to his focus on the right side of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll to the southeast on a private airstrip, about 120 ft down the runway, the left wing struck some tree foliage. The airplane veered left, exited the runway, and impacted trees. He added that he was watching the right side of the runway for a swale and was not paying attention to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.