Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Deteriating aircraft performance was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he was spraying a field east of bremen, north dakota. The airplane was running well with no problems. He reported that he had 180 gallons of chemicals on board and was too heavy. He tried to land in a wheat field by applying full power and two (2) notches of flaps, but hit a fence post two hundred feet short of the field. He reported that he had 'nobody to blame but myself' and he was 'loaded to heavy.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 29, 1995, at 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 188, N9980G, was destroyed by fire after the pilot made a forced landing after the airplane hit a gate post during aerial application. The commercial pilot received no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight departed New Rockford, North Dakota, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was spraying a field east of Bremen, North Dakota, and the airplane was running well with no problems. He reported that he had 180 gallons of chemicals on board and was too heavy. He tried to land in a wheat field by applying full power and two (2) notches of flaps, but hit a fence post two hundred feet short of the field. He reported that he had "nobody to blame but myself" and he was "loaded to heavy." -