Cessna 185C N725

Summary

On 23 October 1997 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 185C registered N725 was involved in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 October 1997 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Farmington, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Four Corners Regional (FMN)

Coordinates

36.7499, -108.1805

Aircraft

Cessna 185C

Registration

N725

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bakersfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA029

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper preflight of the airplane, by failing to properly set the elevator trim for takeoff, and his improper use use of the elevator flight controls. A related factor was: the pilot's lack of recent experience in the make and model of airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a cross-country flight after purchasing the aircraft the previous day. He said he had moderate experience in the aircraft, but lacked recent experience and had flown the aircraft 9 hours in the previous 90 days. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, he put the yoke full forward, planning to return it to neutral when the tail lifted. He said that when the tail came up, he could not move the yoke aft to neutral, and the aircraft went nose down and nosed over. Examination of the aircraft following the accident revealed no discrepancies in the flight control system. According to the manufacturer, if the stabilizer trim is in the takeoff range, the aircraft is incapable of rotating to that degree of nose down attitude during the takeoff roll. Also, the manufacturer reported that if the trim is nose down, out of the takeoff range, the aircraft will nose down, and it is difficult to move the yoke aft. In addition, the manufacturer said the only other way to achieve this type of event is to use the brakes during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.