Cessna A188B N730GU

Summary

On 23 July 2014 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna A188B registered N730GU, operated by Roth Aerial Spraying Inc, was involved in an accident near Milford, Nebraska, 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

23 July 2014 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Milford, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Roth (NE65)

Coordinates

40.7669, -97.0778

Aircraft

Cessna A188B

Registration

N730GU

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Operator

Roth Aerial Spraying Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milford → Milford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA395

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper engine mixture setting which reduced available engine power, and his inadvertent retraction of flaps which resulted in an impact with crops and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the agricultural airplane was loaded and was taking off when the accident occurred. He stated that he set the engine mixture control for best power and proceeded to take off. He stated that the takeoff roll took longer than expected and when the airplane was approaching the departure end of the runway he realized that the engine was not producing the power that he expected. As the end of the runway approached he added a second notch of flaps and the airplane lifted off and cleared the road and the corn crop on the opposite side of the road. The airplane's airspeed started to reduce and the pilot attempted to dump the chemical load, but inadvertently grabbed the flap handle and retracted the flaps. By the time he realized that he had inadvertently retracted the flaps the airplane impacted the corn crop and terrain and subsequently came to rest inverted. The airplane suffered substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot surmised that he had inadvertently leaned the engine mixture control too much prior to the takeoff which resulted in a reduction in available engine power. He made no mention of any pre-impact deficiencies with regard to the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.