No fatalities

28 Mar 2015: CESSNA T188C — RUCKER DARLENE M — Burdett, KS

Burdett, KS, United States

On 28 Mar 2015, a CESSNA T188C operated by RUCKER DARLENE M was involved in an aviation accident near Burdett, KS. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane in gusting wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural airplane veered left during takeoff after a gust of wind, exited the runway into tall grass, then struck a barbed wire fence and rotated 180 degrees, sustaining substantial damage.

Accident Details

According to the pilot of the agricultural airplane, the aircraft was loaded with 120 gallons of product and the fuel tanks were half full. During the takeoff roll, approximately one-third of the way down the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The airplane veered to the left and exited the runway into tall grass. The pilot then attempted to maneuver the airplane back onto the runway to continue the takeoff. However, the airplane collided with a barbed wire fence, causing it to rotate 180 degrees.

Aircraft Damage

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical malfunctions or failures and that the engine was producing power throughout the event.

Contributing factors

Response/compensationCrosswind correction — Not attained/maintained