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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

June 4, 1990 · Cessna 188A · N78516

Martin, SD

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 4, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Martin, SD
Aircraft
Cessna 188A
Tail Number
N78516
Operator
Lakota Nation Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN90LA125

The pilot was attempting to take off from a wet, muddy, 2600-ft long sod runway (elevation 3300 feet MSL) with full fuel and 70 gallons of 2-4-D. The airplane was computed to be below its maximum certificated gross weight. The pilot selected 5 degrees flaps. Optimum takeoff performance is achieved using 20 degrees flaps. Temperature was approximately 88 degrees and the wind was reported to be from the west-northwest at 2-3 mph. Performance figures indicate the airplane should have been able to takeoff. The pilot told an FAA inspector the airplane lifted off momentarily then settled back to the runway. The pilot's accident report said the airplane did not become airborne and this discrepancy could not be resolved. The pilot said the airplane went off the left side of the runway, went through a small pond, struck the shoulder of a road, slid across the road, and came to rest on its nose in a large pond.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE ON-GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE OPTIMUM TAKEOFF FLAPS FOR THE RUNWAY CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED, AND THE SOFT WET RUNWAY SURFACE.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A WET, MUDDY, 2600-FT LONG SOD RUNWAY (ELEVATION 3300FEET MSL) WITH FULL FUEL AND 70 GALLONS OF 2-4-D. THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPUTED TO BE BELOW ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT SELECTED 5 DEGREES FLAPS. OPTIMUM TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE IS ACHIEVED USING 20 DEGREES FLAPS. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88 DEGREES AND THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 2-3 MPH. PERFORMANCE FIGURES INIDICATE THE AIRPLANE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF MOMENTARILY THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT'S ACCIDENT REPORT SAID THE AIRPLANE DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE AND THIS DISCREPANCY COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WENT THROUGH A SMALL POND, STRUCK THE SHOULDER OF A ROAD, SLID ACROSS THE ROAD, AND CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE IN A LARGE POND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 MDT
Nearest AirportOld Martin Numicipal (0nm N)
Runway24
Runway Length2400 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 188A
Tail NumberN78516
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLakota Nation Aviation
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D23 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind315° @ 2 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data