# NTSB CHI00LA289: Cessna A188B, N9326R, Nickerson, KS, September 1, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2000, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Nickerson, KS - Coordinates: 38.139823, -98.080017 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1398&lon=-98.0800&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 October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50331/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA289 ## Probable cause altidude/clearance not obtained/maintained by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the hay bale, the inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot, the high-density altitude, and the high weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - other (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - aircraft weight and balance - high (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor) ## Analysis During initial climb after takeoff the aerial application aircraft, loaded with 165-gallons of chemical, impacted a hay bale located off the end of the runway. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft back for a landing and during the landing the right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing impacted the terrain, and the aircraft skidded to a stop. Witnesses to the accident saw the aircraft impact a hay bale, located off the end of the runway used for the takeoff run, severing the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "I could have carried a smaller load or simply not flown when the density altitude gets too high. Also could have checked the adjacent fields for temporary obstructions (in this case some hay bales) that may have been placed there." The density altitude was approximated at 4,780-mean sea level. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2000, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N9326R, owned and operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with a hay bale during initial climb and subsequent main landing gear collapse during a precautionary landing at the pilot's private airstrip near Nickerson, Kansas. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained no injuries. The flight was departing for the local aerial application flight at the time of the accident. According the pilot's written statement, he was departing for an aerial application flight when on takeoff the aircraft impacted a hay bale located at the end of the runway. The pilot stated, "The acceleration during the take-off roll seemed lower than normal, this was expected given the heavy load [165-gallons of herbicide solution] and high density altitude [approximated at 4,780-mean sea level]." The pilot reported, "The aircraft became airborne just prior to reaching the end of the runway, but the airspeed was still well below Vy [best rate of climb airspeed]. I attempted to accelerate in 'ground effect' to Vy [best rate of climb airspeed], but the aircraft did not accelerate, so I decided to dump some of the load." The pilot stated that while he was dumping some of the chemical load, the aircraft "...bounce off the alfalfa field at least once and perhaps several times." The pilot reported that after releasing most of the chemical load, the aircraft was able to establish a normal climb attitude and speed. The pilot stated that he maneuvered the aircraft back for a landing and during the landing the right main landing gear collapsed, the right wing impacted the terrain, and the aircraft skidded to a stop. The pilot reported that witnesses to the accident saw the aircraft impact a hay bale, located off the end of the runway used for the takeoff run, severing the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by, "I could have carried a smaller load or simply not flown when the density altitude gets too high. Also could have checked the adjacent fields for temporary obstructions (in this case some hay bales) that may have been placed there." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9326R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9326R-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 18802237T, built 1975 (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: 18802237T - Airframe hours: 5235 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Brian Andrew Bird - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2000, 295 hours before - Departed: PVT - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 2,600 × 15 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,980 total, 298 in this make and model, 1,775 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 216 °F, dew point 135 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HUT, 12 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 20000901007089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000901007089A), Sep 1, 2000: Cessna A188B, Nickerson, KS, No damage. (-23) Pilot of N9326R struck a hay bale during the takeoff phase of an aerial application flight from a private airfield. The pilot was unaware of the extent… 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.