Cessna 185 accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota, March 9, 2014
On March 9, 2014 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 185, registered N4764B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Flying Cloud airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff with a gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2014 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota · Flying Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 F, built 1977 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N4764B · registry record · serial 18503371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to takeoff with a left crosswind of 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, the pilot began the takeoff roll with 1/2 throttle. He then advanced the throttle to full forward and pushed the control yoke forward to lift the tail. The airplane began to veer to the left with insufficient airspeed to lift off from the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff and applied brakes. However, the airplane continued forward and collided with a snow bank, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident. In addition, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented had he kept the tailwheel in contact with the runway longer and/or departed on a runway better aligned with the wind.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 258 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 21, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2013; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-D (piston); 3,750 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Eden Prairie MN
- Destination: Waconia MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28R, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KFCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on April 3, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.