1992-07-30: Cessna 188 — Harrell Aviation Services Inc. — Town Creek, AL

Casualties unknown • Town Creek, AL, US

Probable cause

THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND THE COLLISION WITH TREES DURING CLIMBOUT. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT AND WET TERRAIN.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A WET SOD STRIP WITH A FULL LOAD OF CHEMICALS. AFTER THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO ACCELERATE TO LIFTOFF SPEED, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DUMP THE CHEMICALS; THE AIRPLANE BROKE GROUND AND FLEW BRIEFLY. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE CLIMBOUT BUT NEVER GAINED ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES SURROUNDING THE SOD STRIP. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-07-30 Cessna 188 accident near Town Creek, AL?

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A WET SOD STRIP WITH A FULL LOAD OF CHEMICALS. AFTER THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO ACCELERATE TO LIFTOFF SPEED, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DUMP THE CHEMICALS; THE AIRPLANE BROKE GROUND AND FLEW BRIEFLY. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE CLIMBOUT BUT NEVER GAINED ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-07-30 involved a Cessna 188, registration N4495Q, operated by Harrell Aviation Services Inc., at Town Creek, AL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND THE COLLISION WITH TREES DURING CLIMBOUT. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT AND WET TERRAIN.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X15051. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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