# Accident 20150725011599A: Cessna A188B, Albertson, NC, July 25, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 2015, 08:26 local time
- Place: Albertson, NC
- Airport: Peanut Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: XPYG
- Location: 35.1203° N, 77.7847° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1203&lon=-77.7847&mi=10
- Aircraft: N731MB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731MB-2018-10-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A188B (registry code 2073005, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,645 total, 1,095 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA281) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150725011599A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

OPERATOR SHELTON HARDY FOUND ^TORBEN CHRISTENSEN^ VIA THE INTERNET TO HIRE AS HIS PILOT FOR AERIAL SPRAYING SERVICE. FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 24TH, MR HARDY GAVE PILOT ^CHRISTENSEN^ HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL TEST. FRIDAY AFTERNOON PILOT ^CHRISTENSEN^ FLEW HIS FIRST SPRAYING APPLICATION FLIGHT FOR AERIAL SPRAYING SERVICE. SATURDAY MORNING JULY 25TH AT APPROXIMATELY 0825 LOCAL TIME N731MB, PILOTED BY ^TORBEN CHRISTENSEN^, TOOK OFF FROM PEANUT FIELD, STRUCK A TREE AND POWER LINES OFF THE END OF THE GRASS RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST ACROSS EDWARD GRADY ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND THE WEATHER WAS VFR FOR A MORNING TAKE OFF TO COMPLETE THE COTTON SPRAYING MISSION. THE AIRCRAFT PRE TAKE OFF CHECK WAS NORMAL AND THE ACCELERATION AND TAKE OFF WERE NORMAL. THERE WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND REPORTED FOR THE TAKE OFF ON THE 4000' AIRFIELD. THE PILOT CONFESSED OF HAVING A FEW DRINKS WITH HIS BOSS THE NIGHT BEFORE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL NOTICED THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOT EYES AND A SMELL OF ALCOHOL ON THE PILOTS BREATH. ^AFTER A STANDARD SAMPLE OF THE PILOT'S BREATH AT 0859 IT REGISTERED AT .07. AT, 0915 A SECOND SAMPLE WAS TAKEN AND REGISTERED .07. PILOT CHRISTENSEN WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RESULTS AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. TROOPER MYERS TRANSPORTED MR. CHRISTENSEN TO THE DUPLIN COUNTY JAIL FOR AN INTOX TEST. A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HIS BREATH WAS TAKEN AT 1056 WHICH REGISTERED A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT OF .05 AND A SECOND ANALYSIS WAS TAKEN AT 1058 OF.04.

PILOT CHRISTENSEN APPEARED BEFORE MR. BRYANT MCIVER AT THE DUBLIN COUNTY MAGISTRATES OFFICE, WAS GIVEN AN UNSECURED BOND AND RELEASED TO MR. SHELTON HARDY.^

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA15LA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA281), Jul 25, 2015: Cessna A188B (N731MB), Albertson, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff due to his impairment from alcohol use.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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