Casualties unknown

Agricultural Aircraft Overruns Wet Sod Runway After Aborted Takeoff (N731MK)

Town Creek, AL, US

On August 8, 1995, a Cessna 188T (registration N731MK) was involved in an aviation accident near Town Creek, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE RUNWAY CONDITION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE SOFT RUNWAY WAS A FACTOR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot, after moving operations to a wet sod airstrip and reducing the chemical load due to soft conditions, aborted takeoff when the aircraft hit a soft spot and failed to reach flying speed. The airplane overran the 2150-foot runway into an adjacent field. No mechanical issues were reported.

Event Description

An agricultural pilot had been conducting spraying operations from a paved runway earlier in the morning. Later that morning, he relocated the spraying operation to a wet, sod airstrip. Recognizing that the sod surface was soft and wet, the pilot reduced the chemical load to accommodate the runway conditions.

During the initial takeoff run, the aircraft encountered a soft spot on the runway and was unable to achieve flying speed. The pilot jettisoned the chemical load and aborted the takeoff. The airplane subsequently rolled off the departure end of the 2,150-foot runway and into an adjacent field.

Reported Conditions

The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. The accident occurred during a takeoff from a soft, wet sod surface, with the pilot having taken precautionary measures by reducing the load. The soft spot on the runway prevented the aircraft from accelerating to takeoff speed.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04148. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.