Agricultural aircraft strikes cow during takeoff

Casualties unknown • Columbus, MS, US

An agricultural pilot's takeoff was interrupted when a cow ran across the runway from behind a parked truck, causing gear impact and fence collision.

What happened

The pilot had previously landed in a farmer's field to reload his sprayer tank. Before initiating takeoff, he noticed that some cows had strayed onto the strip. He directed his loadcrew assistant to take his truck and clear the cows from the strip. After the cows were cleared, the assistant parked the truck about 400 to 600 ft from the end of the strip. It was facing perpendicular to the direction of takeoff. As the pilot started his takeoff, a cow ran across the strip from behind the truck. From that point, the pilot was unable to avoid hitting the cow. The right main gear struck the cow and the plane veered to the right and struck the fence.

Findings

The incident involved agricultural operations during the takeoff phase. Contributing factors included the presence of livestock on the runway and the positioning of the support truck, which obscured the view of an approaching animal. The pilot was unable to avoid the collision despite immediate reaction.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure the runway was clear of obstacles prior to takeoff, resulting in a collision with a cow.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1982-05-01 Cessna A188 accident near Columbus, MS?

An agricultural pilot's takeoff was interrupted when a cow ran across the runway from behind a parked truck, causing gear impact and fence collision.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1982-05-01 involved a Cessna A188, registration N9557G, operated by Floyd Lowery, at Columbus, MS.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to ensure the runway was clear of obstacles prior to takeoff, resulting in a collision with a cow.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X02718. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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