Cessna A185E accident near Ola, Idaho, October 4, 1995
On October 4, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185E, registered N70221, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ola, Idaho (Private Airstrip 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 inadequate preflight preparation by failing to determine that the takeoff area was clear of obstructions. The rock was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ola, Idaho · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · all A185Es on the register
- Registration
- N70221 · registry record · serial 18502065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF THE TAILWHEEL IMPACTED A HIDDEN BOULDER, MOMENTARILY DISRUPTING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. DURING THE COURSE OF THE PILOT'S RECOVERY ATTEMPT, HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND, PARTIALLY SEPARATING THE AILERON. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS FLIGHT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT WITH APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.