N731MBCessna A188B · 1977

On July 25, 2015, about 0815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N731MB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Albertson, North Carolina. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight.

The pilot stated that he was departing with full fuel tanks and 105 gallons of spray mixture, which was a lighter load than the previous day. A preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies, and the pilot initiated the takeoff from the turf runway with the wing flaps extended 10°. The airplane lifted off the runway about 70 mph, and at 85 mph, the pilot established a "shallow" climb. He stated that as the airplane neared the end of the runway, it began to lose altitude. The left main landing gear impacted a power line and the airplane subsequently descended into terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

A law enforcement officer who responded to the accident noticed the smell of alcohol around the pilot and performed a breathalyzer test about 45 minutes after the accident. The result was a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.07 gm/dL. The pilot was subsequently taken to the police station, where breathalyzer tests revealed 0.05 and 0.04 gm/dL about 1 hour, 45 minutes after the accident.

Postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the intake manifold was damaged during the accident sequence. Spark was produced by each magneto, and piston movement was observed on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated by hand.