Cessna A185F accident near Ashland, ME
On March 24, 2011, a Cessna A185F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ashland, ME. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 24, 2011
- Place
- Ashland, ME
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 46.516°N, 69.134°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110325X14309
Official records · ERA11GA207
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 24, 2011, about 1623 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N724MT, operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, was substantially damaged when it impacted frozen Clear Lake about 30 nautical miles southwest of Ashland, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot/Maine Game Warden was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the public-use flight. According to the operator, the pilot had taken the airplane he customarily flew to Greenville, Maine (3B1), for routine maintenance. He then picked up the ski-equipped accident airplane and returned to his patrol area. A game warden on the ground at Clear Lake reported overhearing the pilot attempting to call the local dispatch center to report that he was having problems with his radio. The game warden was able to relay the message for the pilot using his radio, and shortly after, the pilot landed on Clear Lake and met with the game warden. The game warden stated that he and the pilot talked for approximately 30 minutes before receiving a radio call from another game warden whose snowmobile was stuck on nearby Eagle Lake. The pilot then departed Clear Lake to assist the game warden with his snowmobile. The pilot arrived to assist the warden stranded on Eagle Lake by landing on adjacent Chamberlain Lake, where he picked up the other game warden. They then both flew to where the game warden’s truck was parked, picked up tools, and departed back to where the snowmobile was located. The pilot and game warden freed the snowmobil
Probable cause
An inadvertent encounter with localized instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
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Browse: Maine · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
