20250722021699A

ON JULY 22, 2025, AT 1445Z, THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A CESSNA T188C, DEPARTED OGLE COUNTY AIRPORT (C55), NEAR MOUNT MORRIS, IL ON A 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) AND USING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). THE NEAREST AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE (ATIS) REPORTED CALM CONDITIONS AND BROKEN SKY COVER, KRFD 221454Z 12005KT 8SM BKN250 26/19 A3007.

THE PIC CONDUCTED FIVE FLIGHTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND HAD REPORTED AN ISSUE WITH SPRAY NOZZLES, STATING TO GROUND CREW THAT THE NOZZLES WERE NOT DISPERSING PRODUCT AT AN APPROPRIATE RATE. THE PILOT REQUESTED THAT THE SPRAY BAR BE CLEANED, AND 60 GALLONS OF PRODUCT AND FULL FUEL LOADED INTO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC DEPARTED C55 ON RUNWAY 09. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PIC BEGAN A LEFT TURN AND IMPACTED HIGH-TENSION POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 650 FEET NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 09, COMING TO REST APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET NORTH OF THE IMPACT POINT, 30 FEET NORTH OF IL ROUTE 64. HIGH-TENSION POWER LINES WERE DAMAGED, WITH CUT POWER LINES AND A FRACTURED UTILITY POLE OBSERVED. THE RIGHT-HAND WING TIP WAS FOUND NEAR THE DOWNED ELECTRICAL CABLES; THE REMAINDER OF THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCALIZED AT THE RESTING SITE. THE POST-ACCIDENT FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FATAL INJURIES TO THE PIC.

A POST-ACCIDENT EVALUATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND LOCALIZED, WITH ONLY THE EMPENNAGE REMAINING UNTOUCHED. CONTINUITY OF ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FLAPS WERE TRACED AND FOUND INTACT. DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER BLADES INDICATED ROTATION AND POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. EXTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND NO PRE IMPACT ABNORMALITIES PRESENT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE EVALUATED FOR CONDITION WITH A BORESCOPE AND FOUND UNREMARKABLE. CYLINDER COMPRESSION AND SPARK PLUGS WERE ALSO EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN EXPECTED VALUES.