Cessna A185 accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, September 15, 2018
On September 15, 2018 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna A185, registered N573BV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bullhead City, Arizona (Laughlin/Bullhead Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s diverted attention during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a collision with rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2018 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Laughlin/Bullhead Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185 F, built 1973 · all A185s on the register
- Registration
- N573BV · no longer on the register · serial 18502177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline, and he made a “radical” correction to get back on course. After departing the runway, during the initial climb, he entered information into the fuel totalizer, and when he looked up momentarily, the airplane was in a left bank with rising terrain and powerlines ahead. Realizing that impact was imminent, the pilot added one notch of flaps and kept the wings level. The airplane impacted the ground near a ravine, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported, and postaccident examination confirmed, no anomalies of the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot’s diverted attention during the initial climb resulted in impact with terrain.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,798.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2018; 2,780 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-D-23-B (piston); 1,217 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IFP Bullhead City AZ at 7:45 pm
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 8,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KIFP, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on March 3, 2022. 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 |
| 2 | Record of Conversation-pilot/owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation-faa Iic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Cmi Exam Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-cmi | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-textron Aviation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 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.