# NTSB ERA15LA281: Cessna A188B, N731MB, Albertson, NC, July 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 25, 2015, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Albertson, NC - Coordinates: 35.120277, -77.784721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1203&lon=-77.7847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91627/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91627 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA281 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff due to his impairment from alcohol use. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on the agricultural application flight with full fuel tanks and 105 gallons of spray mixture onboard, which he stated was a lighter load than the previous day. He described the airplane's climb as "shallow," and stated that, as the airplane neared the end of the runway, it began to descend. The left main landing gear impacted a power line and the airplane subsequently descended into terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. A breathalyzer test performed about 45 minutes after the accident revealed that the pilot’s blood alcohol content was 0.07 gm/dL. At the time of the accident, the pilot's blood alcohol content was likely 0.07 to 0.10 gm/dL, which would have been impairing. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2015, about 0815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731MB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Albertson, North Carolina. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight. The pilot stated that he was departing with full fuel tanks and 105 gallons of spray mixture, which was a lighter load than the previous day. A preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies, and the pilot initiated the takeoff from the turf runway with the wing flaps extended 10°. The airplane lifted off the runway about 70 mph, and at 85 mph, the pilot established a "shallow" climb. He stated that as the airplane neared the end of the runway, it began to lose altitude. The left main landing gear impacted a power line and the airplane subsequently descended into terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A law enforcement officer who responded to the accident noticed the smell of alcohol around the pilot and performed a breathalyzer test about 45 minutes after the accident. The result was a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.07 gm/dL. The pilot was subsequently taken to the police station, where breathalyzer tests revealed 0.05 and 0.04 gm/dL about 1 hour, 45 minutes after the accident. Postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the intake manifold was damaged during the accident sequence. Spark was produced by each magneto, and piston movement was observed on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated by hand. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731MB-2018-10-23), registration cancelled 2018-10-23, S/N 18802991T, 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: 18802991T - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 8355.7 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aerial Spraying Service Inc - Registered owner: Aerial Spraying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 2014 - Departed: NONE, Albertson, NC - Destination: NONE, Albertson, NC - Airport: NONE, Private Strip - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,646 total, 1,096 in this make and model, 1,617 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KDPL, 12 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150725011599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150725011599A), Jul 25, 2015: Cessna A188B, Albertson, NC, Substantial damage. Operator shelton hardy found ^torben christensen^ via the internet to hire as his pilot for aerial spraying service. Friday morning, July 24th, mr hardy gave… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91627. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11384708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 483 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA15LA281%20photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385176&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=508%20Memo%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Medical officer's factual report (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11390188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA15LA281_Medical%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Highway patrol officer statement (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385314&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Trp%20Myers%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.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.