DFW05CA216

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna A188B · Winnsboro, LA · August 15, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 15, 2005, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC)
Place
Winnsboro, LA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N4952QCessna A188B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20050815026809A
Case key
62270

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the take-off roll.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The 342-hour commercial pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel equipped airplane while attempting to takeoff from a 3,000-foot long by 75-foot-wide asphalt runway. The airplane exited the right side of the runway. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as calm.

Factual narrative

On August 15, 2005, approximately 0700 central daylight time, a single-engine Cessna A188B agricultural aircraft, N4252Q, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged following a loss of directional control during take-off at the Winnsboro Municipal Airport (F89), near Winnsboro, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident..

The 342-hour pilot stated in a telephone interview with a NTSB representative that he had just returned to Winnsboro, Louisiana, after having completed an agricultural pilot flight training course in Florida. The pilot reported he was using the accident airplane to build flight time until he could be placed on the agricultural application companies insurance.

The pilot further stated he had flown the 300-horsepower airplane twice prior to the accident date and claimed that the tailwheel equipped airplane had a tendency to veer to the left during the take-off and landing rolls. On the day of the accident, the pilot stated he applied full takeoff power, began the take-off roll, and the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot added that he attempted to correct the situation and "came off the power and compensated with right rudder." The airplane then made a 180-degree turn to the right, causing the right wing to drag on the grass and collapsing the right main landing gear.

The Winnsboro Municipal Airport features a single 3,000-foot wide by 75-foot wide asphalt runway (18/36).

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear was folded aft and the right wing structure was damaged.

At 0653, the automated weather observing system at the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), near Monroe, Louisiana, located approximately 28 miles northwest of the accident site reported wind calm, visibility nine statute miles, clear sky, temperature 70 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.10 inches of Mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N4952Q
Reported as
Cessna A188B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18802686T
Airframe hours
9,448
Engine
Continental IO-520D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
David Price
Registered owner
David Price
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 2005 · 27 hours before
Departed
KF89 · Winnsboro, LA
Airport
KF89 · Winnsboro Municipal Airport

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
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Single
Flight hours
342 total · 4 in this make and model · 294 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
9 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.10 inHg
Observed at
KMLU, 28 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.