- Date
- June 26, 1989, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Vega, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4956QCessna A188B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890626017739A
- Case key
- 22710
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The unfavorable wind condition (probable whirlwind or severe wind shear) that was encountered moments after lift-off.
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 pilot had observed adverse weather conditions (whirlwinds) in the area, but due to thick vegetation on the airport, he was not aware that these conditions existed for his takeoff. He stated that he encountered this environment at low airspeed at liftoff. Subsequently, he lost control of the aircraft & the left wing tip hit the ground, then the acft cartwheeled & was damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4956Q
- Reported as
- Cessna A188B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 188026907
- Airframe hours
- 1,421
- Engine
- Continental O-470-S, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ron J. Dewees
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 16, 1989 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- E52
- Airport
- E52 · Oldham County, runway 17, 4,200 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 13,000 total · 700 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.