On July 16, 2004, a Cessna A185F (registration N185S) was involved in an aviation accident near Cut Bank, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported that the airplane quickly departed the left side of the runway and flipped onto its back during the takeoff roll on runway 23, with light winds favoring the direction.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a takeoff operation. According to the written statement provided by the pilot, the airplane departed the left side of the runway during the initial phase of the takeoff roll. The aircraft subsequently flipped onto its back.
The pilot indicated that the wind conditions at the time of the incident were favorable for departure on runway 23. The estimated wind speed was reported to be six knots. The pilot was actively engaged in the takeoff procedure on runway 23 when the loss of control and subsequent flip took place.