Palouse, WA, USA
N731YZ
Cessna A188B
The pilot departed runway 22 with a light quartering tailwind from a private airstrip in an area where the terrain was comprised of gently rolling hills. Unable to climb, the pilot started a gradual turn to the right to avoid rising terrain, and at the same time opened the dump gate to lighten his load. The airplane touched down on a hill at the end of the runway, bounced back into the air and landed going up the next hill at the end of the runway. The airplane then ground looped damaging its right wing. A 0753, a weather reporting facility located 7 nautical miles south of the accident site reported wind 080 degrees at 14 knots. At 0853, the same weather reporting facility reported wind 100 degrees at 17 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
On March 25, 2004, approximately 0830 Pacific standard time, a Cessna A188B agricultural aircraft, N731YZ, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain following takeoff from a private airstrip near Palouse, Washington. The flight was operating in accordance with 14 CFR Part 137, and a flight plan was not filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The local aerial application flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120,1/2), the pilot reported that he departed runway 22 from a private dirt airstrip which was in an area where the terrain was dominated with gently rolling hills. The pilot stated that he took off with a light quartering tail wind, but was unable to climb out at the end of the runway. The pilot further stated that he started a gradual turn to the right to avoid rising terrain, and at the same time opened the dump gate to lighten his load. The pilot related that still unable to climb, the airplane touched down on a hill at the end of the runway, bounced back into the air and landed going up the next hill at the end of the runway. The pilot reported that the right main [landing] gear was broken, which caused the airplane to ground loop, damaging the right wing. At 0753, the weather reporting facility at the Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport, located approximately 7 nautical miles south of the accident site, reported wind 080 degrees at 14 knots. At 0853, the same weather facility reported wind 100 degrees at 17 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
The pilot's decision to takeoff downwind resulting in his inability to achieve a positive climb rate and an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors contributing to the accident included the rising terrain and the tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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