On July 10, 1993, a Cessna T188C (registration N3591J) operated by Arnold J. Boehmlehner was involved in an aviation accident near Wheaton, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to limited forward visibility caused by the aircraft's long cowl design. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel airplane angled left and entered a roadside ditch during takeoff on a two-lane blacktop road, an incident attributed to limited forward visibility from the long cowl before liftoff.
What happened
The pilot initiated takeoff procedures on a two-lane blacktop road. During the ground run, the aircraft angled to the left, causing one wheel to roll off the shoulder of the pavement. The plane subsequently dragged its left wingtip and yawed into a ditch located beside the road.
The investigation
The pilot provided an explanation for the deviation from the intended flight path. The long cowl of the tailwheel airplane significantly limited forward visibility during the ground run. This obstruction persisted until the tail section lifted off the ground, preventing the pilot from seeing ahead clearly enough to maintain proper alignment.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to limited forward visibility caused by the aircraft's long cowl design.
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