# NTSB DEN83LA167: Cessna 188A, N1584M, Burlington, CO, July 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1983, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, CO
- Coordinates: 39.29911, -102.27024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2991&lon=-102.2702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16117/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA167

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
- Main gear collapsed, maneuvering - aerial application
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT STALLED INTO THE GROUND AFTER A DIVE AND ACCELERATED PULL-UP DURING AERIAL APPLICATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DOING THE STEEP PULL-UPS AND DIVES BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY TO THE CITY OF BURLINGTON CO. HE SAID THE ACFT WAS JUST ABOUT EMPTY OF GAS AND CHEMICAL SPRAY AS HE MADE THE CLEANUP PASS WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HE DOVE FROM ABOUT 300 FT AT A 60-70 DEGREE DIVE TO WITHIN 50 FT OF THE GROUND BEFORE BEGINNING TO FLARE. HE ESTIMATED THE IAS AT 105 KTS WHEN HE STARTED THE FLARE. DURING THE FLARE THE ACFT SHUDDERED. HE STATED THAT DURING THE PULL-UP WING OVER TURN AROUND MANEUVER THE ACFT NEVER SHUDDERED AND THE STALL WARNING DID NOT SOUND. WHEN THE ACFT SHUDDERED DURING THE PULL-OUT OF THE DIVE THE PILOT SAID HE RELEASED BACK PRESSURE FOR A SECOND AND THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A 3 POINT ATTITUDE. THE ACFT PANCAKED HARD AND SLID 75 YARDS. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED ON IMPACT. THE GROUND ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ABOUT 4178 FT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS FIGURED TO BE 7500 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1584M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18800684
- Airframe hours: 2270
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Ronald F. Seelhoff
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1983

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,200 total, 70 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19830716032859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830716032859A), Jul 16, 1983: Cessna A188A, Burlington, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered an accelerated stall during a steep procedure turn pull out. Impacted the ground in a level altitude.

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.
