# NTSB CEN11LA452: Cessna A188A, N1588M, Estelline, SD, June 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2011, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Estelline, SD - Coordinates: 44.569164, -96.899009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5692&lon=-96.8990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA452 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81008/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81008 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA452 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff for undetermined reasons because the pilot did not recall the accident. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073008), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073008), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073008), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073008), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The agricultural airplane took off with full fuel tanks and a load of chemical for spraying operations. The airplane crashed about 0.5 miles from the departure airstrip. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane hit the ground in a left-wing-low attitude and then cartwheeled to its resting point. Examination of the airframe, engine and airplane systems revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he remembered taking off from the private airstrip but did not recall the accident itself. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 28, 2011, about 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna A188A, N1588M, impacted the ground and burned after takeoff from a private airstrip near Estelline, South Dakota. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage due to the impact and the postimpact fire. The airplane was operated by Thompson Farm Air LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he recalled taking off from the private airstrip, but had no recollection of the accident itself. The owner of the aircraft stated that the pilot took off and turned to the north-northwest and crashed approximately 0.5 miles northeast of the airstrip. The winds were about 10 knots out of the southeast. The left wing tip hit approximately 50 yards from the final resting spot of the aircraft. The airplane's fuel tanks had just been filled and the load was approximately 125 gallons of chemical in the hopper tank. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, helicopter, instrument airplane and instrument helicopter ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine, airplane multiengine, helicopter, instrument airplane, and instrument helicopter ratings. He reported having 1,400 hours of total flight experience with 67 hours in Cessna A188A airplanes. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a Cessna A188A airplane bearing serial number 18800688. It was a low wing, strut braced monoplane with a fixed conventional (taildragger) landing gear configuration. The airplane was powered by a Continental IO-520-D engine bearing serial number 159648-70D. The engine was rated to produce 300 horsepower. The airplane was used for agricultural spraying operations. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed on April 8, 2011. The airframe had accumulated 3,993 hours total time, and the engine had accumulated 649 hours since overhaul as of the date of the annual inspection. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1753, the recorded weather conditions at the Watertown Regional Airport, about 20 miles northwest of the accident site were: Wind 180 degrees at 9 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear skies; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the airplane was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration personnel. The airplane came to rest in an upright position. The left main landing gear had separated from the fuselage and the right main landing gear was partially separated and folded under the main wreckage. The aft fuselage was bent to the left at a position just aft of the pilot compartment. The tail surfaces remained attached to the aftfuselage. The tail surfaces exhibited minimal impact damage, but had varying amounts of fire damage. The forward portion of the fuselage, including the pilot compartment, exhibited impact and fire damage. The steel tube framework comprising the forward fuselage structure was deformed from impact forces. The aluminum covering of the forward fuselage had melted. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage and was predominately intact. The right aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The left wing was separated from the airplane and came to rest adjacent to the main wreckage. The left aileron and flap remained attached to the wing. The wing tip fairing had separated from the left wing and was located near the initial impact ground scar. The outboard 2 feet of the left wing was bent upward. The engine had separated from the airframe and was examined at a later date. The subsequent examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Examination of the airframe, engine and airplane systems revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1588M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1588M), registered now, S/N 18800688, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188A - Registry model: [Cessna A188A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188a) (registry code 2073008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18800688 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Estelline, SD - Destination: Estelline, SD - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 09, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: center ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: ATY, 20 nm away ## 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 20110628016539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110628016539A), Jun 28, 2011: Cessna A188A, Estelline, SD, Substantial damage. On June 28, 2011 while conducting part 137 aerial application, a Cessna 188 aircraft N1588M piloted by [privacy data omitted], took off from a private asphalt… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81008. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377998&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Continental Engine Field Inspection Report (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Engine%20Field%20Inspection%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.