No fatalities

3 May 2011: CESSNA A185F — PLUMBO VICTOR GASTON — Ocean City, NJ

Ocean City, NJ, United States

On 3 May 2011, a CESSNA A185F operated by PLUMBO VICTOR GASTON was involved in an aviation accident near Ocean City, NJ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's premature lifting of the tail wheel during takeoff roll, leading to a loss of 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

During takeoff, the pilot prematurely lifted the tail wheel, causing a loss of directional control. The airplane veered left, exited the runway, struck a light, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

Accident Details

A pilot reported losing directional control during a takeoff attempt on runway 24. After approximately 200 feet of the takeoff roll, the pilot lifted the tail wheel prematurely. This action caused the airplane to veer to the left, exit the runway, and strike a runway light. The impact separated the right main landing gear from the airplane, and the right wing collided with the ground.

Damage Assessment

The accident sequence resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The right main landing gear was completely detached from the aircraft. No other damage details were provided.

Weather Conditions

The nearest airport's weather observation system recorded wind from 170 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots at the time of the accident.

Probable cause

The pilot's premature lifting of the tail wheel during takeoff roll, leading to a loss of directional control.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot