On June 29, 1997, a Cessna A188B (registration N4485Q) was involved in an aviation accident near Mcgregor, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's improper planning/decision, his failure to abort the takeoff while sufficient runway was remaining, and/or his failure to jettison his load in order to achieve sufficient climb rate to clear trees. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane struck trees during climb-out after a takeoff with insufficient acceleration. The pilot did not hold an Agricultural Operator Certificate and had no documented training in aerial operations.
Accident Details
The pilot reported that during the fourth flight of the day, the airplane did not accelerate sufficiently during takeoff. He stated that there was not enough runway remaining to abort the takeoff, so he lifted off into a shallow climb. The pilot did not perform an emergency hopper dump of the 1,200 pounds of herbicide onboard. The airplane subsequently struck trees on climb-out.
Engine Examination
An examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunction that would have resulted in a partial power loss.
Pilot Qualifications
Investigation revealed that the pilot did not possess an Agricultural Operator Certificate in accordance with 14 CFR 137.11. Additionally, no documentation was found to show that the pilot had received training in aerial operations in accordance with 14 CFR 137.19(e).
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