Minam Lodge Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cove, Oregon 97857
Monday, July 24, 2006 7:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement the pilot reported, "About 500 ft. down the runway was a dogleg to the right. I had lined up somewhat to the left in order to mitigate the turn to the right. At approximately 40 miles [per] hour the aircraft started drifting toward the left on the wet grass. There didn't seem to be any rudder control and there was absolutely no braking on the wet grass. I pulled off the power and I was standing on the right brake when the left wing contacted some small brush and aspen trees." The Minam Lodge Airport (7OR0) is located in mountainous terrain in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. The airport elevation is 3,589 feet above sea level, and has a single turf runway. The runway is 2,000 feet long and 40 feet wide.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Factors include wet grass and trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 755
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Cove
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97857
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 452129N
Event Location Longitude 1173803W
Event Location Airport MINAM LODGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7OR0
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 3589
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20774
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO BOI
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2006 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N477G
NTSB Number SEA06CA176
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 18504244
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tim Whitney
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sausalito
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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 --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Cove
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYL
Destination City MC CALL
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 11 2006 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --