# NTSB CHI97LA257: Cessna A188B, N731GE, Elwood, NE, August 14, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1997, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Elwood, NE - Coordinates: 40.580005, -99.860313 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5800&lon=-99.8603&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 February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA257 ## Probable cause the pilot not maintaining clearance from the bushes. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preparation prior to the takeoff attempt, his changing flap positions during the takeoff run which degraded the airplane's performance further, and the bushes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Nose over, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that before takeoff, he loaded the airplane with 130 gallons of water and chemical, placing the airplane near it's maximum restricted operating gross weight of 4,200 pounds. 'The temperature was about 80 degrees with high humidity from rain the night before.' The wind was light out of the west. 'I started my takeoff roll to the north on the grass runway, rolled 1,000 feet, and brought the tail up.' The pilot said he rolled another 500 feet, lowered five degrees of flaps, and started to lift off of the ground. 'The plane settled back down.' The pilot lowered the flaps to 10 degrees and tried to lift off again, but the airplane would not take off. 'The airplane impacted a bank with brush on it at the end of the runway.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The Cessna A188B Owner's Manual states that for airplanes operated in the restricted category, 'Take-off performance at these gross weights is limited, and ideal field elevation, runway, and weather conditions are expected to exist in obtaining satisfactory take-off performance. Operation from fields in excess of 1,000 above sea level, rough or soft runways, adverse runway gradients, high outside air temperature, turbulence, etc., may prevent a safe take-off at these gross weights. All of these things must be considered by the operator.' The manual also states that, 'The optimum flap setting for take-off at the maximum restricted category gross weight with dispersal equipment installed is 10-degrees.' ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1997, at 1145 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna A188B, N731GE, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when on takeoff, the airplane struck some plum bushes. The airplane subsequently nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Elwood, Nebraska, at 1145 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that before takeoff, he loaded the airplane with 130 gallons of water and chemical, placing the airplane near it's maximum restricted operating gross weight of 4,200 pounds. The pilot taxied out to the run-up area and checked the magnetos and the propeller. "The temperature was about 80 degrees with high humidity from rain the night before." The pilot said that the wind was light out of the west. "I started my takeoff roll to the north on the grass runway, rolled 1,000 feet, and brought the tail up." The pilot said he rolled another 500 feet, lowered five degrees of flaps, and started to lift off of the ground. "The plane settled back down, so I pulled 10 degrees of flaps on and tried to lift off again. But the airplane did not want to fly. The airplane impacted a bank with brush on it at the end of the runway." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane found the airplane resting upright on its belly. The engine, cowling and forward fuselage were bent upward and aft. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. The main landing gear were separated and folded under the fuselage. The airplane's right wing showed downward bends and aft-running tears along the leading edge. The right wing spar was bent down and aft. The upper wing skin outboard of mid-span showed heavy wrinkles. The right flap was bent upward. The leading edge of the left wing was bent aft and downward. The left wing showed heavy wrinkles in the upper skin outboard of mid-span to the wing tip. The airplane's fuselage showed heavy skin wrinkling predominantly along the bottom. The empennage was undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems showed no anomalies. The Cessna A188B Owner's Manual states that for airplanes operated in the restricted category, "Take-off performance at these gross weights is limited, and ideal field elevation, runway, and weather conditions are expected to exist in obtaining satisfactory take-off performance. Operation from fields in excess of 1,000 above sea level, rough or soft runways, adverse runway gradients, high outside air temperature, turbulence, etc., may prevent a safe take-off at these gross weights. All of these things must be considered by the operator." The manual also states that, "The optimum flap setting for take-off at the maximum restricted category gross weight with dispersal equipment installed is 10-degrees." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731GE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731GE-2012-05-18), registration cancelled 2012-05-18, S/N 18802878T, built 1977 (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: 18802878T - Airframe hours: 4609 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Philip G. Walton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1997, 284 hours before - Departed: 2NE0 - Airport: 2NE0, Johnson Lake Airport, runway 31, 3,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,700 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LXN, 6 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 19970814022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970814022469A), Aug 14, 1997: Cessna A188B, Elwood, NE, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost control on takeoff, struck plum bushes and flipped over. (-23) on August 14, 1997, at 1100 CDT, a Cessna A188B, N731GE, operated by a commercial… ## Other investigations on N731GE (2) 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 WPR09CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA303), Jun 20, 2009: Cessna A188B (N731GE), Ogden, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to the number one cylinder air induction tube becoming disconnected for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB LAX05LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA237), Jul 16, 2005: Cessna A188B (N731GE), Bishop, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the tailwheel mount during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. 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.