Cessna T188C accident near Palouse, Washington, April 13, 2011
On April 13, 2011 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Cessna T188C, registered N4562J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Palouse, Washington (Schoepflin Airport). It was a personal flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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 inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions at takeoff and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2011 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Palouse, Washington · Schoepflin Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T188C · all T188Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4562J · no longer on the register · serial T18803752T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engine ran fine during the run-up inspection and takeoff, and the airplane was within weight and balance limitations. The departure runway had an upslope, there was rising terrain in the departure corridor, and witnesses reported a light tailwind at the time of departure. Shortly after the airplane lifted from the runway, it began to settle. The pilot pitched the nose up to try and fly over the terrain at the end of the runway, but the airplane stalled into the terrain about 500 feet past the departure end. The airplane nosed over inverted and the airframe and wings sustained substantial damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,801 hours in all; 1,660 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,708 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 7, 2011
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WN26 Palouse WA at 1:40 pm
- Destination: WN26 Palouse WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KPUW, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.