# NTSB LAX81DVA44: Cessna 188, N9752G, Merced, CA, May 13, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1981
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125303
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVA44
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA44

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2386  81/5/13  NR.MERCED,CA          CESSNA 188          CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 5907
        TIME - 1300                    N9752G              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 3124 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MERCED,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 5000                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  150                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - DOWNWIND
        REMARKS- MUSHED INTO RICE FLD W 2FT OF WTR AFTER STEEP TURN TO ALIGN W FLAGGERS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9752G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9752G-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 18801589T, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ag Strip

## 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 19810513032949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810513032949A), May 13, 1981: Cessna 188CESSNA, Merced, CA, Destroyed. Ag pilot allowed aircraft to settle back into ground after transition from takeoff to swath run at end of runway.

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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