Summary
On December 23, 1994, a Cessna A185F (N8389Q) was involved in an accident near Erie, CO. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries, with 1 person uninjured out of 3 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report FTW95LA073. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8389Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW95LA073