CESSNA A188

Castroville, TX, June 24, 2011

Event Information

DateJune 24, 2011
Event TypeACC
LocationCastroville, TX
CountryUSA
Coordinates29.33833, -98.85056
AirportCastroville Municipal Airport
Highest InjuryNONE
NTSB NumberCEN11CA438
Event ID20110703X23630

Aircraft

MakeCESSNA
ModelA188
Registration #N731ST
OperatorTORKELSON FLYING SERVICE INC
OwnerCHARLES A TORKELSON
CategoryAIR
FAR Part137
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAWN
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None1
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the agricultural spraying flight.

Full Narrative

The commercial pilot was making his first spraying pass of the day when the agricultural airplane struck and damaged a center pivot irrigation system. The impact damaged the irrigation system, and the right main landing gear and tail wheel separated from the airplane. The airplane immediately started a descending bank to the right. The pilot reported that the right aileron was jammed in the full up position and control stick movements had no affect on the right aileron. He was able to use full power, full left aileron, and full left rudder to regain partial control and return to the airport for an emergency landing. As the airplane touched down the left main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest upright with resulting substantial damage to the fuselage and flight controls. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies prior to impact with the irrigation system. He also reported his forward vision was partially obscured by chemical spray on the windshield.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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