Ely (Yelland Field) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ely, Nevada 89301
Monday, March 6, 2006 8:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was back-taxiing on Runway 12 in preparation for takeoff. There was a strong, gusty wind from the left rear quarter. The pilot reported that a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing and tail of the airplane, and the right wing struck the surface of the runway. The airplane pivoted to the right, and swerved off the right side of the runway. The airplane's main wheels struck an area of muddy soil, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right elevator, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a quartering tailwind while taxiing, which resulted in a loss of control and an on ground encounter with terrain. A factor in the accident was the quartering crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 820
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Ely
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89301
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 391707N
Event Location Longitude 1145000W
Event Location Airport Ely Airport (Yelland Field)
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KELY
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20467
NTSB Notification Source LAX ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 6 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2006 8:45AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Reno FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N120KM
NTSB Number ANC06LA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 185
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18503720
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2900.5
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Edmond H. Sears
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Franconia
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03580
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Franconia
Operator State NH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 03580
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KELY
Departure City Ely
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Ely
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - to takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 2 2006 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4812
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --