NTSB Factual Report

On July 24, 2004, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N93DM, collided with trees during initial climb from a private airstrip about 1.5 miles northeast of Gridley, California. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact sequence, and it was destroyed in the subsequent ground fire. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a business flight by its owner, the Mariana Nut Company, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had previously taken off from the 1,800-foot-long private airstrip, but this was his first departure from the airstrip in the Cessna A185F, which has a 300-horsepower engine. No anomalies were detected with the airplane during the preflight inspection. The wind was calm during takeoff, and seconds after becoming airborne the airplane drifted left. The pilot reported that he likely did not adequately apply corrective rudder, and he allowed the airplane to veer left until impacting trees, which were located near the airstrip.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper use of the rudder to correct for torque and P-factor effects and failure to maintain obstacle clearance.