Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Switchback Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Thursday, August 15, 1996 14:30 MDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot landed to the west at a private airstrip, using moderate braking to stop on a steep downhill portion of the runway. He backtaxied and loaded his passengers and baggage, then backtaxied further for takeoff. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll to the west, he was unable to maintain directional control with left rudder and brake, and the main wheels drifted off the right edge of the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff, but was unable to stop before the aircraft tipped to the left and damaged the left wingtip and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot noted that the wind had been from the west at 5 gusting 10 knots, but had shifted to the northeast. Also, he noted that the right main wheel had been dragging more than the left wheel as the aircraft drifted off the hard-packed runway onto the softer shoulders. Additionally, the pilot noted that when operating at high temperatures and in high density altitudes, more time should be allowed for brakes to cool, if used heavily just before takeoff.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane and runway alignment during the takeoff roll. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind, and possible dragging of the right brake.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 8/15/1996 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1430 |
| Event Time Zone | Mountain Daylight Time |
| Event City | CODY |
| Event State | WYOMING |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 82414 |
| Event Date Year | 1996 |
| Event Date Month | 8 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | |
| Event Location Longitude | |
| Event Location Airport | SWITCHBACK RANCH |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 6500 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Full |
| Investigator's weather source | Pilot |
| Time of the weather observation | 0 |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 0 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 0 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 4000 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Scattered |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | 0 |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 0 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 30 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 27 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 4 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 0 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Variable |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 5 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 10 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 965 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Aug 15 1996 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1900 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 8 2000 10:18AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N185K |
| NTSB Number | SEA96LA193 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Company VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Cessna |
| Aircraft Model | A185E |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | A185E |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 18501887 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 3350 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 28 1995 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 82 |
| Airframe Hours | 3410 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | CECIL N. MCMILLIN |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | BOX 1715 |
| Aircraft Owner City | CODY |
| Aircraft Owner State | WY |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 82414 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AVIATION LC |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 3227 DUGGLEBY DR |
| Operator City | CODY |
| Operator State | WY |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | 82414 |
| Operator Code | SPMA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | Yes - certificate holder |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | Unknown |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | Non-scheduled |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | Domestic |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | Passenger Only |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Unknown |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | |
| Departure City | |
| Departure State | |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 0 |
| Departure Time Zone | |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | COD |
| Destination City | |
| Destination State | WY |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 2 2001 10:34AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 27 |
| Runway Length | 3000 |
| Runway Width | 30 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |