N90834

Substantial
Minor

Cessna A188S/N: 18803322T

Accident Details

Date
Friday, July 31, 2020
NTSB Number
CEN20CA320
Location
Memphis, MO
Event ID
20200803X22344
Coordinates
40.396945, -92.181663
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot did not remove the rudder gust lock during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with a tree.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N90834
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
18803322T
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1979
Model / ICAO
A188C188
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
WOODS FLYING SERVICE LLC
Address
22636 STATE ROUTE M
Status
Deregistered
City
MEMPHIS
State / Zip Code
MO 63555-4359
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he had just started flying this airplane five days before the accident as a contract pilot. Over the past four days, the operator had the airplane on the "ready pad" with all of the tie-downs and gust locks already removed. On the day of the accident, the airplane was tied down with all of the gust locks still installed. Prior to takeoff, the pilot completed a preflight inspection but did not remove the rudder gust lock. During the takeoff roll, the pilot had to use the brakes to keep the airplane centered on the runway, which made for a much longer takeoff roll. The airplane dragged in the 10 ft high corn off the end of the runway and lost lift, so the pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll the airplane collided with a tree and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He stated that he should have completed a more thorough preflight inspection.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN20CA320