- Date
- June 4, 1990, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Martin, SD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N78516Cessna 188A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900604021439A
- Case key
- 17942
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The on-ground loss of control during the takeoff ground run. Contributing to this accident was the pilot's failure to use optimum takeoff flaps for the runway conditions that existed, and the soft wet runway surface.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to take off from a wet, muddy, 2600-FT long sod runway (elevation 3300FEET MSL) with full fuel and 70 gallons of 2-4-D. The airplane was computed to be below its maximum certificated gross weight. The pilot selected 5 degrees flaps. Optimum takeoff performance is achieved using 20 degrees flaps. Temperature was approximately 88 degrees and the wind was reported to be from the west-northwest at 2-3 mph. Performance figures inidicate the airplane should have been able to takeoff. The pilot told an FAA inspector the airplane lifted off momentarily then settled back to the runway. The pilot's accident report said the airplane did not become airborne and this discrepancy could not be resolved. The pilot said the airplane went off the left side of the runway, went through a small pond, struck the shoulder of a road, slid across the road, and came to rest on its nose in a large pond.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78516
- Reported as
- Cessna 188A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18801953T
- Airframe hours
- 1,390
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D23, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Paul R. Nelson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1990 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Martin, SD
- Airport
- 9V6 · Old Martin Numicipal, runway 24, 2,400 × 60 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 25,000 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 25,000 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N78516 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.