N9151R

On August 14, 1995, at 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B, N9151R, operated by Spraybirds Inc. of McPhersen, Kansas, was substantially damaged while attempting to take off from a private grass airstrip in Canton, Kansas. The commercial certificated pilot reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 137 aerial agricultural flight operated without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions.

Prior to taking off for the second spraying run for the day, the pilot stated that he performed a magneto, propeller, and engine instrument check. He reported all indications were normal. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll on the grass airstrip (2600' x 40'), "the tail came up about 800 feet down the runway and I noticed that the airplane was underpowered." The pilot stated that he added full flaps, and the airplane then became airborne. He then retracted the flaps and continued to stay in ground effect while he verified that the mixture, propeller setting, and throttle control were all full forward. "I flew approximately 1000 feet but gained neither altitude or airspeed. With trees a few hundred feet ahead I dumped the load and pulled left. I felt the airplane stall to the left," the pilot stated. The airplane impacted the ground.

Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies.