Cessna A185 N573BV

Summary

On 15 September 2018 at about 19:45 local time, a Cessna A185 registered N573BV was involved in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 2018 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Laughlin/Bullhead Intl (IFP)

Coordinates

35.1242, -114.5306

Aircraft

Cessna A185

Registration

N573BV

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Glendale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA263

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a collision with rising terrain.

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, 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.