Private, Personal Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
Sunday, April 7, 2013 10:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll from the private grass airstrip, the airplane’s left main tire and the tailwheel struck a rock that was partially hidden by the tall grass. The pilot continued the takeoff, proceeded to the destination airport, and landed uneventfully. After landing, the rudder was found substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid an object on the grass airstrip during the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Cottonwood
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83522
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 460135N
Event Location Longitude 1163831W
Event Location Airport Private, Personal Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 956 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID LWS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1442
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.62
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report Closest official weather = 23 miles SE: No 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) 31436
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 5 2013 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2303Y
NTSB Number WPR13CA199
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 A185E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 185-01868
Certified Max Gross Weight 3440
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 Jan 13 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 4182
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BENTZ FENCE COMPANY INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LEWISTON
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83501
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name CLINTON BENTZ
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lewiston
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83501
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Cottonwood
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LWS
Destination City Lewiston
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 5 2013 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --