- Date
- August 27, 1985, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Rayville, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N731LXCessna A188B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850827041569A
- Case key
- 21865
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 acft contacted the terrain in a cotton fld during an uncontrolled descent which occurred on takeoff. The plt was test flying the acft in anticipation of possibly purchasing it. The plt reported that when aprx 1/2 the way down the rwy the acft did not appear as though it would clear trees at the end of the rwy. He elected to continue the takeoff and dump the 110 gallon load of water on board. Upon crossing the end of the rwy at an alt of 10 to 20 ft AGL, the plt initiated a turn to avoid the trees. During the turn the plt intended to dump the load, but he inadvertantly deployed the flaps. The acft hen settled into the cotton fld. The acft owner stated the plt was briefed on takeoff distances and the acft performance, however, he failed to use all available rwy for the takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N731LX
- Reported as
- Cessna A188B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18802988T
- Airframe hours
- 1,274
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Marcus Covington
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 30, 1985 · 1 hours before
- Airport
- Covington
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,782 total · 1,012 in this make and model · 4,864 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.