# NTSB LAX84FA390: Cessna T188C, N9951J, Brawley, CA, July 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1984, 03:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place: Brawley, CA
- Coordinates: 33.019264, -115.449172 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0193&lon=-115.4492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FA390
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FA390

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - load jettison - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - performance data - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - unavailable, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT STRIP. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT WAS 'OVER-GROSS' AND THAT IT WOULD NOT CLIMB. THE PLT HAD USED FULL FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF AND WHEN THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB HE REACHED FOR THE DUMP OR LOAD JETTISON HANDLE AND GRABBED THE FLAP HANDLE INSTEAD. BY THE TIME HE REALIZED HIS ERROR THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND AND BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PLT SAID HIS CHECKOUT PLT TOLD HIM TO USE FULL FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. THIS WAS DENIED BY THE CHECK PLT. THE ACFT MANUAL RECOMMENDS 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR SHORT FIELD TAKEOFFS ONLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9951J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T188C
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-T 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Ben-Co Cussom Aerial Applicat.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1983
- Departed: BRAWLEY, CA
- Airport: Emanuel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 7,800 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: YUM, 48 nm away

## 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 19840713032619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840713032619A), Jul 13, 1984: Cessna T188C, Calapatria, CA, Destroyed. Tried to takeoff with overload and full flaps. Unable to climb. Dumped flaps but not load. Crashed and burned.

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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