Cessna A188B N53243

Summary

On 20 August 2008 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N53243, operated by Harksen Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Camanche, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 2008 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Camanche, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.7891, -90.2701

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N53243

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harksen Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Camanche → Camanche

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA260

Nobody was injured.

The pilot took off on an unsuitable airstrip which resulted in the airplane becoming prematurely airborne with inadequate airspeed after it contacted a rise in the terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the takeoff run the airplane became airborne when it contacted a "hump" in the grass airstrip. He stated he attempted to keep the airplane airborne, but it settled back onto the airstrip where it contacted a "washed-out" rut that crossed through the middle of the airstrip. This resulted in the right landing gear being sheared off the airplane and the left landing gear collapsing rearward. The internal airframe structure was damaged at the gear attach points. The pilot stated he was aware of the condition of the airstrip prior to the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.