Cessna A185 N573BV accident near Bullhead City, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a collision with rising terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline, and he made a “radical” correction to get back on course. After departing the runway, during the initial climb, he entered information into the fuel totalizer, and when he looked up momentarily, the airplane was in a left bank with rising terrain and powerlines ahead. Realizing that impact was imminent, the pilot added one notch of flaps and kept the wings level. The airplane impacted the ground near a ravine, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

The pilot reported, and postaccident examination confirmed, no anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot’s diverted attention during the initial climb resulted in impact with terrain.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR18LA263 for the full record.