N9298R

Destroyed
None

Cessna A188BS/N: 18802224T

Accident Details

Date
Monday, July 30, 2007
NTSB Number
DFW07CA174
Location
Garwood, TX
Event ID
20070828X01248
Coordinates
30.537500, -96.524169
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain proper clearance from terrain/obstacles. A contributing factor was the runway conditions.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N9298R
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
18802224T
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1975
Model / ICAO
A188BC188
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
THOMPSON MICHAEL L
Address
PO BOX 407
Status
Deregistered
City
GARWOOD
State / Zip Code
TX 77442-0407
Country
United States

Analysis

The 1,457-hour commercial pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane while attempting to depart from a 2,400-foot long unimproved private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that while departing on a southerly heading he was "dodging pot holes and mud holes" on the airstrip. The spray booms under the wings became entangled with tall grass resulting in a loss of directional control. The airplane exited the right side of the airstrip, the right wing collided with a fence post and the airplane "ran through a ditch." An FAA inspector interviewed the pilot, who confirmed the accident sequence. The inspector recorded structural damage. On the Airport Information block of the accident report form, the pilot categorized the runway as "dirt" and further described the condition of the runway as "holes," "rough," "soft," and "wet." At about 5 minutes after the mishap, the nearest weather reporting station, located 27-nautical miles to the south-east of the accident site, reported winds calm, visibility 5 statue miles with mist, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and barometric pressure of 29.93 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated at 1,776 feet.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DFW07CA174