Cessna 185 accident near Trout Lake, Washington, October 18, 2003
On October 18, 2003 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 185, registered N1841R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trout Lake, Washington (Trout Lake Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. A factor was the wet runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2003 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Trout Lake, Washington · Trout Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · all 185s on the register
- Registration
- N1841R · registry record · serial 18502556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touching down on the wet runway, the aircraft veered slightly to the right. During landing rollout the aircraft did not respond to left rudder or left wheel braking, but skid marks measuring 200 feet in length indicated the left brake was functioning. After applying heavy braking, the right wheel plowed into the ground causing the aircraft to nose over. A post-accident inspection of the airplane did not indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,400 hours in all; 6,920 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 8,910 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2003; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 66WA Trout Lake WA at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DLS, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.