# NTSB CEN24LA274: Cessna A188, N9807V, David City, NE, July 15, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2024, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: David City, NE
- Coordinates: 41.23033, -97.122531
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2303&lon=-97.1225&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194733
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194733/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194733
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA274

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna A188, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna A188, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073004), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073004), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna A188, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073004), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A188, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073004), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of an agricultural airplane reported that as he rotated the airplane for takeoff, the airplane felt “squirrelly”, and began to turn to the right. The pilot corrected for the right turn, and the airplane took a rapid left turn that he was unable to correct. At the edge of the runway, he pulled up, became airborne in ground effect, and headed for a row of trees. Knowing he was unable clear the trees, he reached for the hopper dump handle; the airplane impacted terrain next to the runway and came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence the left wing separated from the airplane and the lower fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 14. The nearest recorded weather observation reported winds from 010° at 13 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9807V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9807V), registered now, S/N 188-0057, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna A188](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188) (registry code 2073004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 188-0057
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 4340
- Engines: Continental IO-520D115BR 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Walvoord Spraying Service LLC, doing business as Walvoord Spraying Service LLC
- Registered owner: Lazy T Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 93Y, David City Muni, runway 14, 3,676 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2024; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 415 total, 22 in this make and model, 339 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: KOLU, 16 nm away
- METAR: KOLU 151956Z AUTO 01013KT 10SM CLR 34/24 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP083 T03390244

## 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 20240715008569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240715008569A), Jul 15, 2024: Cessna A188, David City, NE, Substantial damage. The pilot was on takeoff roll when he applied forward stick and raised the tail off of the runway. The plane maintained runway heading for a few seconds prior…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194733. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17522563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA274%20-%206120_1%20(pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (owner) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17523386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA274%20-%206120%20(owner)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17524330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20--%20Ryan%20Penick_15Jul2024_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17523731&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA274%20-%20Photo%20Summary-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.