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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 18, 2006 · Cessna 185 · N2217T

Dillingham, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 18, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Dillingham, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 185
Tail Number
N2217T
Operator
James a Libby
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC06LA076

The commercial certificated pilot was departing from a beach in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot said the beach was an area he utilized for set-net fishing. He began his takeoff run between a creek and set-net ropes lying on the beach, a distance of about 550 feet. The airplane lifted off and climbed to about 10 feet, when the pilot said he felt a tug on the tail of the airplane, and realized that the tailwheel had snagged one of the ropes. The airplane pitched nose down, collided with the ground, and nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. After the accident, the pilot said he found that when the tailwheel snagged the first rope, it pulled an adjacent rope upward, which snagged the main landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in the airplane's tailwheel snagging a rope during the takeoff run, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was a rope that was positioned across the departure path.

Full Narrative

On June 18, 2006, about 1515 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N2217T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground during takeoff-initial climb from a remote beach, about 18 miles south-southeast of Dillingham, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was en route to Dillingham, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 29, the pilot reported that he was departing from a beach near Ekuk Spit, which is an area he utilizes for set-net fishing from the beach. The pilot said he began his takeoff run toward the west, between a creek and set-net ropes lying on the beach surface, a distance of about 550 feet. The airplane lifted off the ground and climbed to about 10 feet, when the pilot said he felt a tug on the tail of the airplane, and he realized that the tailwheel had snagged one of the ropes. The airplane pitched nose down about 45 degrees, collided with the ground, and nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. After the accident, the pilot said he found that when the tailwheel snagged the first rope, it pulled an adjacent rope upward, which snagged the main landing gear.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:15 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185
Tail NumberN2217T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames a Libby
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-550-D15B · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingOvercast 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data