On August 5, 1989, a Cessna 188 (registration N21895) operated by Cochran Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Canton, MS. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with a parked aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot lost control shortly after takeoff when a crosswind gust caused the aircraft to veer left into a parked plane near the runway edge.
What happened
The pilot reported that while taking off from the northern end of the runway, the aircraft rolled approximately 400 to 500 feet before encountering a sudden gust of wind. This gust caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. As a result, it collided with an unoccupied aircraft that was parked approximately 50 feet from the edge of the runway. At the time of the incident, a thunderstorm cell was located nearby. The pilot estimated the wind direction was from 260 degrees at 15 knots, with gusts reaching 18 knots.
Findings
The investigation highlighted that gusty crosswind conditions contributed significantly to the loss of directional control during the initial climb phase. The proximity of the parked aircraft to the runway edge played a critical role in the extent of the damage sustained by both planes.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with a parked aircraft.
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