# NTSB ERA15CA027: Cessna A188B, N731PM, Louisburg, NC, October 23, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 23, 2014, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Louisburg, NC - Coordinates: 36.024723, -78.32917 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0247&lon=-78.3292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90303/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90303 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA027 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after dispersing a load he returned, and landed uneventfully on runway 5, which was the runway in use, reporting that the wind was from the west northwest at approximately 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. He loaded the ant bait, taxied out, and during the takeoff roll from runway 5, about 600 to 800 feet down the runway, he indicated that he, "really got hit with a gust" estimated to be at 20 knots. When the wind gust occurred the tail wheel had not been raised from the runway yet. He indicated that he lost directional control resulting in a ground loop, and the airplane weather vaned, hit the edge, and bounced then came down with the sideload resulting in damage. He attempted to correct with rudder and brake but he was unable to. He indicated there was nothing wrong with the airplane that caused the accident. A surface observation taken from the accident airport about 5 minutes before the accident indicates the wind was variable from 280 to 340 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that after dispersing a load he returned, and landed uneventfully on runway 5, which was the runway in use, reporting that the wind was from the west northwest at approximately 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. He loaded the ant bait, taxied out, and during the takeoff roll from runway 5, about 600 to 800 feet down the runway, he indicated that he, "really got hit with a gust" estimated to be at 20 knots. When the wind gust occurred the tail wheel had not been raised from the runway yet. He indicated that he lost directional control resulting in a ground loop, and the airplane weather vaned, hit the edge, and bounced then came down with the sideload resulting in damage. He attempted to correct with rudder and brake but he was unable to. He indicated there was nothing wrong with the airplane that caused the accident. A surface observation taken from the accident airport about 5 minutes before the accident indicates the wind was variable from 280 to 340 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N731PM), registered now, S/N 18803048, 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: 18803048 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 8416.6 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Air Ag Inc - Registered owner: Air Ag Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2014, 32 hours before - Departed: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Destination: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Airport: LHZ, Traingle North Executive Arpt, runway 05, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: LHZ ## 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 20141023019659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141023019659A), Oct 23, 2014: Cessna A188B, Louisburg, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot stated, "I was taking off from klhz on runway 5 at approximately 1100 edst to apply ant bait to a local nursery. I had received fuel service from the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90303. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%2FIncident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report and Record (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Record-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. Left Side View Depicting the Damage to the Aft Fuselage. (item 4, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20Left%20Side%20View%20Depicting%20the%20Damage%20to%20the%20Aft%20Fuselage.-Master.PDF 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.