N62882 – Cessna 185 – 2018-08-12 NTSB Accident Report

On August 12, 2018, a Cessna 185 (N62882) was involved in an incident near Brooks Range, 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 airplane's encounter with downdraft conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a subsequent loss of altitude and collision with terrain.

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he took off from an off-airport unimproved gravel surface. He recalled that the airplane climbed and was airborne for about 300ft before it encountered a "severe downdraft." The airplane impacted a creek bed and the main landing gear separated from the airframe.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the foremost fuselage bulkhead and stringers.

The pilot reported that the wind at the accident site was from 230 degrees at 25 knots with gusts to 30 knots, and that he was landing to the southwest.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA488. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N62882.