Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB ERA10LA390
CESSNA A185F — Rockwood, ME
| Date | August 1, 2010 |
| Location | Rockwood, ME |
| Aircraft | CESSNA A185F |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Landing gear not configured |
| Pilot age | 64 |
| Pilot total time | 23,390 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated - C
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Prescription medication-Pilot - F
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot
What happened
The amphibious float-equipped airplane departed from a paved runway for the flight, where a water landing on a lake was to be made. The pilot did not raise the landing gear after takeoff. Upon reaching the destination, the landing gear contacted the water during landing and the airplane abruptly nosed over. The airplane came to rest floating inverted, suspended by the floats. The month preceding the accident the pilot had several medical tests performed and was anticipating surgery for the removal of stomach cancer. While the pilot may have been having difficulty sleeping due to back pain or his impending surgery or possible chemotherapy, the investigation was unable to determine that fatigue was a factor in the accident. His toxicology results indicated recent use of diphenhydramine (an over-the-counter antihistamine) at levels that would have likely been impairing at the time of the accident.