# NTSB DFW07CA117: Cessna A188B, N3863J, Fabens, TX, May 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2007, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fabens, TX - Coordinates: 31.515556, -106.147224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5156&lon=-106.1472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque, New Mexico - NTSB case key (mKey): 65815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing wind conditions during takeoff. A contributing factor was the crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts - weather condition - thunderstorm,outflow - compensation for wind conditions - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 5,149-hour commercial pilot reported that his first flight of the day had been delayed due to thunderstorms moving through the area. The pilot added that as the agricultural airplane reached 50-60 mph during the takeoff roll, the tailwheel became airborne as the pilot encountered a gusting crosswind from the right requiring full right rudder and brakes. The pilot was not able to compensate for the existing conditions and the airplane departed the left side of the 4,120-foot long Runway 26. As the airplane exited the 20-foot wide runway, the 5,149-hour pilot retarded the engine power and dumped the 150-pounds load of agricultural mixture. About the same time, the right landing gear tire sank into the soft ground to the left of the runway and the airplane nosed-over. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position and the pilot was able to egress from the single-engine airplane without injuries. Both wings separated from the airframe during the accident sequence. Weather at the airport was reported as winds from 085 degrees at 2 to 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, with scattered clouds at 1,500 feet and an overcast ceiling at 5,200 feet, a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 16 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.14 inches of Mercury. The pilot added that there were thunderstorms in the area at the time of the mishap. ## Factual narrative The 5,149-hour commercial pilot reported that his first flight of the day had been delayed due to thunderstorms moving through the area. The pilot added that as the agricultural airplane reached 50-60 mph during the takeoff roll, the tailwheel became airborne as the pilot encountered a gusting crosswind from the right requiring full right rudder and brakes. The pilot was not able to compensate for the existing conditions and the airplane departed the left side of the 4,120-foot long Runway 26. As the airplane exited the 20-foot wide runway, the 5,149-hour pilot retarded the engine power and dumped the 150-pounds load of agricultural mixture. About the same time, the right landing gear tire sank into the soft ground to the left of the runway and the airplane nosed-over. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position and the pilot was able to egress from the single-engine airplane without injuries. Both wings separated from the airframe during the accident sequence. Weather at the airport was reported as winds from 085 degrees at 2 to 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, with scattered clouds at 1,500 feet and an overcast ceiling at 5,200 feet, a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 16 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.14 inches of Mercury. The pilot added that there were thunderstorms in the area at the time of the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3863J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3863J-2008-07-03), registration cancelled 2008-07-03, S/N 18803677 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803677 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: C and D Aerial, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: E35, Fabens, TX - Destination: E35, Fabens, TX - Airport: E35, Fabens, runway 26, 4,120 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 5,149 total, 3,900 in this make and model, 5,274 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 85° at 4 knots, gusting 8 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,200 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: E35 ## 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 20070519009969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070519009969A), May 19, 2007: Cessna A188B, Fabens, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On may 19, 2007, at approximately 0945, N3863J, a Cessna CE-188-A188A, departed fabiens airport, fabiens, Texas for the first pass of aerial application.… 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.