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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 16, 1994 · Cessna A188A · N5657J

Cochran, GA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Cochran, GA
Aircraft
Cessna A188A
Tail Number
N5657J
Operator
Lane W Wimberly
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL94LA140

THE AG PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD SPRAY PASS OF A SMALL FIELD. DURING THE CLIMBOUT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE PERIMETER OF THE FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A GUSTING TAIL WIND AT THE TIME, AND HE WAS CARRYING A 'SUBSTANTIAL' LOAD OF PESTICIDES. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT AIRSPEED WAS DIMINISHED DUE TO THE CONSECUTIVE PASSES OF THE SMALL FIELD. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CLEARANCE FROM TREES DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. FACTORS WERE THE TREES AT THE PERIMETER OF THE FIELD, AND THE GUSTING TAIL WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

On July 16, 1994, at 1245 eastern daylight time, Cessna A188A, N5657J, collided with trees during an attempted pull up from a swath run near Cochran, Georgia. The aerial application flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed from a private airstrip in Cochran at 1220. According to the operator, the pilot was on climb out from the third swath run when the aircraft collided with the trees. The operator recalled that there was an increase in wind speed and there was a shift in wind direction when the pilot attempted the climb out from the field; the operator also said that the climb out was attempted with a tail wind. The pilot reported that a substantial load of pesticides was being carried at the time of the accident. He also reported that there was a gusting tail wind at the time of the accident, and that airspeed was diminished due to a loss of "momentum" from short passes on a small field. He reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft following the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A188A
Tail NumberN5657J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLane W Wimberly
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:58
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data