On September 3, 2002, a Cessna 185 (registration N9808X) was involved in an aviation accident near Seward, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of directional control of the airplane due to the failure of the pilot to correct for torque/P Factor during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was a wet grass surface. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot departing a remote grass airstrip in a tundra tire-equipped airplane veered left, struck a small tree, then collided with a large tree, damaging the wing, fuselage, engine mounts, and propeller.
Accident Details
The accident involved a commercial certificated pilot operating a tundra tire-equipped airplane. The departure was from a remote grass-covered airstrip. The airstrip, oriented northeast/southwest, measures approximately 800 feet in length and 30 feet in width. According to the pilot, after taxiing to the end of the strip, he initiated a departure toward the southwest. Upon applying full power, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the veer by applying the right brake, but the airplane slid on the wet grass surface. Subsequently, the left wing struck the top of a small tree along the left side of the airstrip. The pilot reported that the airplane then continued in a left arc off the left side of the runway and collided with a large tree. Damage was sustained to the left wing, fuselage, engine motor mounts, and propeller.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 3 Sept 2002 Cessna 185 accident near Seward, AK?
A commercial pilot departing a remote grass airstrip in a tundra tire-equipped airplane veered left, struck a small tree, then collided with a large tree, damaging the wing, fuselage, engine mounts, and propeller.
Were there any fatalities in the 3 Sept 2002 Cessna 185 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 3 Sept 2002 involved a Cessna 185, registration N9808X, at Seward, AK.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
A loss of directional control of the airplane due to the failure of the pilot to correct for torque/P Factor during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was a wet grass surface.
