N2550Z – CESSNA 185B – 2013-03-05 NTSB Accident Report

On March 05, 2013, a Cessna 185B (N2550Z) was involved in an incident near Flat, AK. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting, variable wind conditions during initial climb after takeoff.

The airline transport pilot was departing in a wheel/ski-equipped airplane, in support of a sled dog race, with one passenger and cargo aboard. The pilot described wind conditions at the time of the accident as gusts to 20 knots, and that the direction was variable. She reported that just after takeoff from the soft, snow-covered frozen lake, and while making a slight left turn, the airplane descended at the departure end of the site, subsequently impacting snow-covered terrain. As a result, the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no reported mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC13CA028. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2550Z.