What happened
The accident occurred during the takeoff phase on Runway 31. Environmental conditions included a wind from 200 to 220 degrees at 12 knots. According to the factual narrative, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft due to the crosswind component coming from the left side.
As a result of this loss of control, the airplane exited the grass runway surface and struck a ditch. The pilot had accumulated 12.6 hours of total flight time specifically in the Cessna 185C at the time of the incident. No further details regarding injuries or damage extent are provided in the source text.
The investigation
The available source material does not contain specific findings from a mechanical examination or post-accident inspection of the aircraft components. The focus remains on the operational circumstances during the takeoff roll.
Findings
Contributing factors identified in the narrative include:
- Failure to maintain directional control during takeoff
- Crosswind conditions from the left (200 to 220 degrees at 12 knots)
- Limited experience in the specific aircraft type (Cessna 185C) with only 12.6 hours total time
The event resulted in the aircraft leaving the paved or grass surface and impacting a ditch. The pilot was not injured based on the absence of injury reports, though fatality status is not explicitly confirmed in the terse source.