# NTSB SEA93LA195: Cessna A188B, N731ED, Ringling, MT, September 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1993, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Ringling, MT - Coordinates: 46.260719, -110.779174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2607&lon=-110.7792&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 August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41763 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41763/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA195 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - object - fence ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AT THE END OF THE STRIP AND WAS FLOWN CLOSE TO THE GROUND IN ORDER TO FLY UNDER A SET OF POWER LINES NEAR THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE POWER LINES, THEN SETTLED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN FOR A BRIEF TIME, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT DUMPED THE LOAD OF CHEMICAL AS THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN AGAIN AND COLLIDING WITH A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE THEN CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1993, at 0700 hours mountain daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731ED, collided with a fence and came to rest in an open field shortly after take off from an airstrip near Ringling, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the airplane was loaded with approximately 110 gallons of the herbicide Roundup for the first flight of the day. The airstrip is short, therefore, a short field take off was performed. Power lines cross the end of the runway and normal procedures are to fly under the wires. The airplane lifted off normally at the end of the airstrip and was flown under the wires. The airplane then settled to the ground and collided with, and through a fence. The pilot dumped the herbicide and the airplane came to rest in an open barely field. The pilot reported that the engine was producing full power and he was not aware of any mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731ED-1998-07-20), registration cancelled 1998-07-20, S/N 18802831T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802831T - Airframe hours: 3113 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D23 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Russaero Flying Service - Registered owner: Northern Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1993, 230 hours before - Airport: Higgins Airstrip, runway 32, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,625 total, 2,278 in this make and model, 3,427 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## 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 19930909040439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930909040439A), Sep 9, 1993: Cessna A188B, Ringling, MT, Substantial damage. Lifted off. Stayed low to pass under wires then settled. Dumped load. Settled again. Struck barbed wire fence. ## Other investigations on N731ED (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 SEA96LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA138), Jun 29, 1996: Cessna A188B (N731ED), Opheim, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to follow the proper short field takeoff procedure as specified in the Airplane Flight Manual, his improper use of wing flaps during the takeoff, and his failure to abort the… 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.