Cessna 185D Skywagon, N5892T: Accident occurred September 21, 2016 in Dela Creek, Alaska

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA503
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in Fairbanks, AK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/10/2017
Aircraft: CESSNA 185, registration: N5892T
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he and his passenger waited most of the day for the 30-knot wind to subside before departing the 1,200-ft-long dirt and grass airstrip. 

He reported that the wind velocity had decreased to 10 knots and that he had calculated that, with the 10-knot headwind, the airplane would rotate about 700 ft down the runway. The pilot monitored the wind via ribbons placed at various locations around the airstrip. During takeoff, the airplane rotated about 700 ft down the runway and climbed to about 8 ft above the ground. The pilot stated that it “then it felt like we lost our lift.” The pilot recalled that there wasn’t enough runway remaining to land and that there was a brush-covered bank at the departure end of the runway. The airplane started to settle to the ground, and although operating at full power and on the cusp of a stall, they cleared the bank. Beyond the bank, the pilot landed the airplane on a short sand bar, but the airplane overran the sand bar and impacted several large rocks. 

After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed that he had departed with an 8- to 10-knot tailwind. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing strut, the aileron, the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. 

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to recognize he was taking off with a tailwind and his inadequate compensation for taking off with a tailwind, which led to the airplane’s failure to attain a climb and a subsequent forced landing.

http://registry.faa.gov/N5892T

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA503
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in Fairbanks, AK
Aircraft: CESSNA 185, registration: N5892T
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he and his passenger waited for the majority of the day for the 30-knot wind to subside before departing the 1,200-ft. dirt and grass airstrip.

He reported that the wind velocity had decreased to 10 knots and that he had calculated that with the 10-knot headwind, the airplane would rotate about 700 feet down the runway. The pilot monitored the wind via ribbons placed at various locations around the airstrip. 

He reported that during takeoff the airplane rotated about 700 feet down the runway, and climbed to about 8 feet above the ground; "then it felt like we lost our lift". The pilot recalled that there wasn't enough runway remaining to land, and there was a brush covered bank at the departure end of the runway. 

He reported that the airplane started to settle to the ground, and although operating at full power and on the cusp of a stall, they cleared the bank. Beyond the bank, the pilot landed the airplane on a short sand bar, but the airplane overran the sand bar and impacted several large rocks. 

The pilot reported that after exiting the airplane, he noticed that he had departed with an 8-10 knot tailwind. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing strut, the aileron, the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. 

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation.