Cessna A188B N731RG

Summary

On 23 February 1982 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N731RG, operated by John F. Gladish, was involved in an accident near Lodi, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

23 February 1982 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lodi, California, United States

Nearest airport

Thomas Ranch (0600)

Coordinates

38.1091, -121.1592

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N731RG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John F. Gladish

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lodi → Lodi

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

LAX82DVD10

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTED FROST ON THE WINGS BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT FELT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED. HE INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON A 2500 FT AIRSTRIP WITH A LOAD OF PARAQUAT AND WATER. THERE WAS A SLIGHT TAILWIND. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE ACTUATED THE DUMP HANDLE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD, BUT STRUCK A 5 FT BANK NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PRE-CRASH MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES EXCEPT CONSIDERABLE LEAD DEPOSITS ON THE LOWER SPARK PLUGS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A RUN-UP CHECK. THE PROPELLER CONTROL WAS FOUND POSITIONED LESS THAN HALF WAY FROM THE HIGH PITCH SETTING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXERCISED THE PROPELLER CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE INDICATED THAT HE MAY HAVE MISTAKENLY LEFT THE PROPELLER CONTROL IN A HIGH PITCH, LOW RPM POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.