# NTSB CEN23LA374: Cessna A188B, N8075G, Bay Port, MI, August 19, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 19, 2023, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Bay Port, MI - Coordinates: 43.880328, -83.287515 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8803&lon=-83.2875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO East Michigan - NTSB case key (mKey): 192917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192917/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192917 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA374 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to takeoff from a soft wet runway with a quartering tailwind which resulted in a lack of climb performance and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was beginning his fourth agricultural application flight of the day and that the air temperature and wind speed had increased from previous flights that morning. He began the takeoff roll to the north on the soft, wet runway and noted that toward the end of the runway, the airplane entered “ground effect” and had difficulty climbing. He attempted a slight right turn to avoid trees on the northwest end of the runway and the airplane descended into a soybean field and impacted a drainage ditch. The airplane nosed over and tumbled multiple times which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest recorded weather observation reported the wind from 240° at 6 knots, which resulted in a left quartering tailwind for the takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8075G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8075G), registered now, S/N 18801226T, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - 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: 18801226T - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 6454.5 - Engines: Continental IO520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Vaughns Flying Service Inc, doing business as Vaughns Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Vaughns Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2023, 114 hours before - Airport: runway 010, 2,400 × 80 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 692.5 total, 191.1 in this make and model, 614.6 as pilot in command, 274.1 in the last 90 days, 132.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KBAX, 12 nm away - METAR: KBAX191455Z AUTO 24006KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A3009 RMK AO2 T02090118 ## 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 20230819012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230819012339A), Aug 19, 2023: Cessna A188B, Bay Port, MI, Destroyed. Aircraft was attempting to depart a soft grass runway with a tailwind. At the end of the runway the aircraft was unable to climb above ground effect and… ## Other investigations on N8075G (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 MKC74FTG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FTG19), Jun 22, 1974: Cessna 188 (N8075G), Crete, ND, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192917. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16674281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA374%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 654 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16674291&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - POH excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16675384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Exercept-Rel.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.