# NTSB ATL07CA007: Cessna 188B, N91181, Belhaven, NC, October 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2006, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Belhaven, NC - Coordinates: 35.539165, -76.616943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5392&lon=-76.6169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64874/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions and maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis According to the pilot, during takeoff from a grass airstrip, the airplane stalled on initial climb and crashed in a cotton field. He was carrying 150 gallons of chemicals. The pilot stated that, upon exiting the airplane, he observed that the wind had switched from a headwind to a tailwind. The pilot stated that he should have erected a windsock or should have taken on a lighter load of chemicals. He also said that there were no mechanical problems noted with the airplane prior to the accident. Substantial damage occurred to both wings, the propeller, the fuselage, and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. According to an FAA Inspector, the pilot was engaged in aerial application operations without an agricultural operator certificate. ## Factual narrative On October 11, 2006, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N91181, registered to a private individual and operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, crashed in a cotton field shortly after takeoff in Belhaven, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated-pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, during takeoff from a grass airstrip, the airplane stalled on initial climb and crashed in a cotton field. He was carrying 150 gallons of chemicals. The pilot stated that, upon exiting the airplane, he observed that the wind had switched from a headwind to a tailwind. The pilot stated that he should have erected a windsock or should have taken on a lighter load of chemicals. He also said that there were no mechanical problems noted with the airplane prior to the accident. Substantial damage occurred to both wings, the propeller, the fuselage, and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. According to an FAA Inspector, the pilot was engaged in aerial application operations without an agricultural operator certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91181](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91181-2007-12-04), registration cancelled 2007-12-04, S/N 18802024, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802024 - Airframe hours: 5337 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: William J. Brinkley, doing business as Western Carolina AG AIR - Registered owner: William J. Brinkley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2006, 279 hours before - Departed: Belhaven, NC - Destination: Belhaven, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 4,925 total, 2,980 in this make and model, 4,839 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: OCW ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20061011023819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061011023819A), Oct 11, 2006: Cessna A188B, Bellhaven, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that during takeoff and initial climb from a short agricultural grass airstrip, the wind shifted, resulting in a loss of lift, stall and… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.