Agricultural aircraft fails to become airborne during takeoff

Casualties unknown • Cimarron, KS, US

An agricultural aircraft failed to reach takeoff speed and impacted a ditch at the end of the runway while carrying a heavy payload of chemicals.

What happened

The pilot performed a runup before initiating a takeoff roll toward the south. During the takeoff run, the pilot observed that the aircraft was not reaching an adequate speed, despite power indications appearing normal. The pilot reported that the airplane initially appeared to be operating normally but then experienced a loss of partial power.

As a result, the aircraft failed to become airborne and subsequently impacted a ditch located at the end of the runway. The aircraft was carrying a payload consisting of 165 gallons of agricultural chemicals at the time of the accident. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and the landing gear.

Findings

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the pilot had not dumped the chemical payload prior to the takeoff attempt. There was no evidence reported of a mechanical malfunction occurring prior to the impact.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to become airborne due to a loss of partial power while carrying a heavy payload of agricultural chemicals.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-07-30 Cessna 188B accident near Cimarron, KS?

An agricultural aircraft failed to reach takeoff speed and impacted a ditch at the end of the runway while carrying a heavy payload of chemicals.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-07-30 involved a Cessna 188B, registration N441Q, at Cimarron, KS.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft failed to become airborne due to a loss of partial power while carrying a heavy payload of agricultural chemicals.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X06197. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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