Cessna 185 accident near Sinclair Is., Washington, July 19, 2003
On July 19, 2003 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered CFHMY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sinclair Is., Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing for takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the ditch and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2003 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sinclair Is., Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- CFHMY · no longer on the register · serial 185-02349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taxiing for takeoff on a crowned grass airstrip which was bordered on both sides by ditches when the airplane started going sideways. The right landing gear went off the side of the airstrip, into a ditch, clipped a fence, and proceeded into an adjacent pasture, rotating 90 degrees to the right before coming to a stop in an upright position. There was substantial damage to the underside of the right elevator, the left elevator and stabilizer, the right aileron, and the right outboard underwing area.
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
Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,237.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2003; 18.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-570D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sinclaire, Is. WA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: Urban WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FHR, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.