# NTSB SEA05CA069: Cessna A188B, N4784Q, Palouse, WA, April 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 3, 2005, 17:20 local (Apr 4, 2005, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Palouse, WA - Coordinates: 46.255279, -117.058609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2553&lon=-117.0586&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 July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 61249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61249/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA069 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during the initial climb after takeoff. A tailwind, hilly terrain and inadequate airspeed were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that this was the 30th load of the day dispensing fertilizer. During the takeoff roll on runway 29 with calm winds, the aircraft was loaded with about 1,300 pounds of Urea. The pilot reported that the tail came up normally and that he didn't notice any problems with the engine. The aircraft lifted off and remained in ground effect while going upslope. The pilot reported that the aircraft then began to settle, at which time he started dumping his load, but not enough before the aircraft impacted upsloping terrain in a three point attitude. The aircraft became airborne for a short distance before colliding with the top of the next hill. The pilot reported that after exiting the aircraft, he noticed a slight tail wind. The pilot reported no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 2005, about 1720 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4784Q, registered to and operated by the pilot, doing business as Sierra Pacific Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip about four miles south of Palouse, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that this was the 30th load of the day dispensing fertilizer. During the takeoff roll on runway 29 with calm winds, the aircraft was loaded with about 1,300 pounds of Urea. The pilot reported that the tail came up normally and that he didn't notice any problems with the engine. The aircraft lifted off and remained in ground effect while going upslope. The pilot reported that the aircraft then began to settle, at which time he started dumping his load, but not enough before the aircraft impacted upsloping terrain in a three point attitude. The aircraft became airborne for a short distance before colliding with the top of the next hill. The pilot reported that after exiting the aircraft, he noticed a slight tail wind. The pilot, who is also a mechanic reported that both the main landing gear and tail wheel separated and that there was substantial damage to the left wing leading edge, as well as to the underside of the wing which was wrinkled back to the rear spar. The pilot reported no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident sequence. The nearest weather reporting facility located in Pullman, Washington, about 9 nautical miles south of the accident site was reporting at 1753 clear skies and 10 miles visibility. The wind was from 90 degrees at nine knots. The temperature was 09 degrees C., and the altimeter was 29.63" Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4784Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4784Q-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 18802526T, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - 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 - Serial number: 18802526T - Engines: Continental IO-520-D23B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: David Bowen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: pALOUSE, WA - Airport: runway 29 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,600 total, 500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050403005579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050403005579A), Apr 3, 2005: Cessna A188B, Palouse, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At about 5:20 p.m. the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed a privately owned crop duster airstrip near Palouse Washington. The aircraft was a Cessna… ## Other investigations on N4784Q (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA83LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA049), Feb 2, 1983: Cessna A188B (N4784Q), Medford, OR, destroyed 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.