Cessna A188B N731MP

Summary

On 21 June 2004 at about 15:13 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N731MP was involved in an accident near Prosser, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2004 at 15:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Prosser, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Aknux (NE38)

Coordinates

40.7353, -98.5717

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N731MP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prosser → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI04LA146

1 person died.

The pilot's abrupt maneuver to avoid obstructions, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. The low altitude flight operation, and the transmission tower (antenna) were contributing factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot was fatally injured when the aircraft inadvertently stalled, began a spin, and impacted terrain during a maneuver to avoid a transmission tower. The owner/operator of the accident aircraft reported that the pilot was completing a period of training prior to being hired at the operator's agricultural application service. During the accident flight the pilot was to complete ten practice application passes. The operator stated that he witnessed the takeoff, however, instead of turning out to the east, the pilot turned to the west. The operator noted that he drove to the designated practice field, but the accident aircraft never arrived. A witness reported that the aircraft was flying about 500 feet above ground level, when it suddenly banked hard and appeared to go straight down. A second witness reported that he did not see the aircraft in flight, but looked up to see the impact. This witness stated he "saw the moment of impact and it appeared to have gone [straight] down into the ground." A transmission tower, extending 625 feet above ground level, was located approximately 1,000 feet south of the accident site. Flight control continuity was established from the control surfaces to the cabin area during a post-accident examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.