No fatalities

3 May 2008: Cessna A185F — Mexican Hat, UT

Mexican Hat, UT, United States

On 3 May 2008, a Cessna A185F was involved in an aviation accident near Mexican Hat, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that after encountering a rut during takeoff from a dirt road, he continued to a dirt strip where multiple bounces during landing led to a veer-off and impact with trees, resulting in substantial damage.

Background

A pilot conducted a takeoff from a dirt road. During the takeoff roll, the right main gear encountered a rut. The pilot was uncertain whether this event damaged the gear leg or tire assembly. Despite this, he continued the flight to a dirt strip.

Flight to the Dirt Strip

Upon arrival, the pilot flew over the field twice to assess wind conditions and the condition of the landing area. No wind indicator was present at the field. He elected to land uphill on a westerly heading.

Landing Sequence

On short final, the pilot experienced significant downdrafts and added power to compensate. The subsequent landing resulted in a bounce, which the pilot reported was recoverable with additional power. The airplane then bounced once or twice more and veered sharply to the left of the runway. It departed the runway, striking trees and bushes before nosing over.

Damage and Mechanical Status

The accident caused substantial damage to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Tree(s)