Summary
On June 24, 2011, a Cessna A188 (N731ST) was involved in an incident near Castroville, TX. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the agricultural spraying flight.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA438. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N731ST.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the agricultural spraying flight.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA438