NTSB Factual Report

On September 1, 2005 at 1615 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185E airplane, N1644M, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the takeoff roll at the Calaveras County Airport, San Andreas, California. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. The flight was departing at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane was 600 feet down the 3,603-foot-runway (runway 31) when the airplane encountered a dust devil. The airplane veered to the left, and the pilot added full right rudder to counteract the left movement. The airplane was thrust left and upward onto the left wing. The pilot reduced power and then the right main landing gear impacted an earthen berm and sheared the landing gear. The airplane came to rest on the right wing, engine cowling, and right horizontal stabilizer (all of which were structurally damage).

Witnesses approached the pilot following the accident and informed him they observed a dust devil approach the airplane during the takeoff roll. The pilot indicated that there were no anomalies with the airframe or the engine prior to the event.

The pilot reported accumulating a total of 1,200 hours of flight time, of which 300 hours were accumulated in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane upon encountering a dust devil during the takeoff roll.