# NTSB FTW85LRD04: Cessna A188B, N731LX, Rayville, LA, August 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1985, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Rayville, LA
- Coordinates: 32.469615, -91.749588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4696&lon=-91.7496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LRD04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21865/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LRD04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18802988T
- Airframe hours: 1274
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 58; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850827041569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850827041569A), Aug 27, 1985: Cessna A188B, Rayville, LA, Destroyed. Inadvertently deployed flaps while intending to dump water load after takeoff. Stalled into a cotton field.

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.

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