Cessna A185F accident near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, December 4, 2022
On December 4, 2022 at about 10:15 am local time, a 1974 Cessna A185F, registered N926HM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fergus Falls, Minnesota (Fergus Falls Municipal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2022 · about 10:15 am local time
- Place
- Fergus Falls, Minnesota · Fergus Falls Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1974 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N926HM · registry record · serial 18502422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted off the left edge of the runway. Corrective action was attempted, however the airplane encountered ice off the side of the runway preventing recovery. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right-side lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,275 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 2,275 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,434 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,525 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520D (piston); 767 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KPUB Pueblo CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,639 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 2995.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 am from KFFM
Weather report (METAR): KFFM 041515Z AUTO 21006KT 10SM CLR M10/M13 A2995
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA054.