Cessna A188A accident near Felton, Delaware, August 18, 1992
On August 18, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna A188A, registered N6664G, was destroyed in an accident near Felton, Delaware (Dave Hrupsa airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AT A TIMELY POINT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE CLIMB RATE AN A COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Felton, Delaware · Dave Hrupsa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A188A · all A188As on the register
- Registration
- N6664G · no longer on the register · serial 1880121LT
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA A188A AG WAGON WAS DEPARTING A 3000 FOOT SOFT AND WET SOD STRIP WITH 900 POUNDS OF SEED FOR A SPRAY MISSION. THE AIRPLANE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE PILOT FELT HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE TAKEOFF DURING THE DEPARTURE ROLL DUE TO INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING REMAINED IN THE TREES, THE FUSELAGE WITH THE RIGHT WING FELL TO THE GROUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1992; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Goldsboro MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.