CHI97LA177

The pilot said he began the sprayer calibration flight's takeoff on a runway with a 10 to 15-knot crosswind from the left. He said the airplane lifted off the runway and touched down a short time later. The pilot said he had relaxed the right rudder pressure he had applied for the crosswind after the airplane lifted off. He said he did not reapply the rudder pressure after the touchdown soon enough. He said the next thing he knew the airplane was inverted on the runway. The owner/operator said fresh tire skid marks and propeller strike marks were on the runway that led to the airplane resting inverted on the runway. The pilot said he could not recall applying any brakes during the takeoff or landing sequence.

On June 21, 1997, at 1040 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna A188B, N4954R, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff on runway 21 (3,250' X 30' dry asphalt) at the Satanta Municipal Airport, Satanta, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 spray equipment calibration flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Satanta, Kansas, at 1040 cdt.

During an interview the pilot said a crosswind from the southeast existed during the accident flight's takeoff. He said the wind speed was about 10 to 15 knots. The pilot said the airplane lifted off the runway between 60 and 65 knots indicated airspeed. He said the airplane touched down on the runway shortly after the liftoff. According to the pilot, he had relaxed the right rudder pressure he had been applying for the crosswind after the airplane lifted off. Upon touching down, the pilot said he did not reapply the rudder pressure soon enough. He said the next thing he knew the airplane was inverted on the runway. He said he did not recall applying any brakes during the takeoff or landing sequence.

The owner/operator of the airplane said he observed numerous fresh tire skid marks on the runway. He said he followed the skid marks from their beginning to where the airplane was resting inverted on the runway. According to the owner/operator, propeller strike marks were on the runway in between the skid marks. He said the propeller tips had been damaged from striking the runway.

The pilot did not submit an NTSB 6120.1/2 Pilot/Operator Accident Report. He had been mailed a copy by the Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector assigned to the investigation. The NTSB investigator-in-charge also sent the pilot the same form. He did not return either form to the respective sender.