- Date
- July 23, 2014, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Milford, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N730GUCessna A188B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Lincoln FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140723015629A
- Case key
- 89765
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
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.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
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.
Factual 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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N730GU
- Reported as
- Cessna A188B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18800977T
- Built
- 1972
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Roth Aerial Spraying Inc
- Registered owner
- High Plains Aerial LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- NE65 · Milford, NE
- Destination
- NE65 · Milford, NE
- Airport
- NE65 · Roth, runway 36, 2,640 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- LNK, 15 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 63 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.