- Date
- February 23, 1982, 06:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lodi, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N731RGCessna A188B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report February 23, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 71464
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 pilot stated that he noted frost on the wings before takeoff, but felt there was not enough to be concerned. He initiated a takeoff on a 2500 ft airstrip with a load of paraquat and water. There was a slight tailwind. He stated that during the takeoff roll, the engine did not appear to be developing full power. He actuated the dump handle to lighten the load, but struck a 5 ft bank near the end of the strip. An examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no pre-crash malfunctions or failures except considerable lead deposits on the lower spark plugs. However, the engine operated normally during a run-up check. The propeller control was found positioned less than half way from the high pitch setting. The pilot stated that he exercised the propeller control several times before takeoff. He indicated that he may have mistakenly left the propeller control in a high pitch, low RPM position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N731RG
- Reported as
- Cessna A188B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18803091T
- Airframe hours
- 1,685
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D32, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- John F. Gladish
- Registered owner
- James L Thomas
- Departed
- 0600 · Lodi, CA
- Destination
- 0600 · Lodi, CA
- Airport
- 0600 · Thomas Ranch, runway 29, 2,500 × 0 ft, gravel
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 300 in this make and model · 9,000 as pilot in command · 143 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SCK