Cessna A185F N55TA accident near Bryce Canyon, Utah

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswinds during takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was departing from the airport and the winds were variable, with reported wind gusts to 15 knots. Due to the variable winds he elected to depart from runway 30. The airplane accelerated normally down the runway and the pilot applied forward elevator to prevent a premature lift-off. The airplane began to drift to the left and the pilot applied aileron and rudder. He was not able to return the airplane to the center of the runway and the right wing began to drag on the surface. He then closed the throttle and the airplane struck brush with the right wing down. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet to the left of the runway edge and about 1,500 feet from the departure end of the runway with damage to the landing gear, engine, and empennage. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical anomalies. Winds at the airport 15 minutes prior to the accident were from the southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots; 10 minutes prior to the accident they were from the south-southeast at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots; at the time of the accident winds were from the south at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10CA304 for the full record.