N8389Q

On December 23, 1994, at 1245 mountain standard time, a Cessna A185F, N8389Q, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private airport near Erie, Colorado. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. There was no flight plan filed.

In the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that he "steadily increased back pressure on the yoke and the aircraft started to climb. At approximately 10 feet above ground level, the aircraft did not appear able to sustain flight. The aircraft then bounced along the runway a number of times and directional control was lost."

A passenger reported that the "engine sounded fine as we began our take-off roll. We left the runway and rose to approximately 10 feet and then sank back to the runway. We settled on the runway and climbed back into the air to approximately 20 feet and descended again. This time we hit as though we had made a hard landing and went back into the air to about 50 feet. At this point it seemed as if the nose dropped and we were approaching the runway...at a steep angle."

A witness also reported seeing the aircraft in an "unusual attitude--nose high, tail low" and striking the runway several times before it came to rest on a taxiway.