# NTSB ATL82FID08: Cessna 188, N5522S, West Point, VA, May 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 17, 1982, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: West Point, VA
- Coordinates: 37.550849, -76.800079 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5508&lon=-76.8001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82FID08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73012/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82FID08

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH A 50 GAL LOAD OF WATER TO CALIBRATE THE SPRAY SYSTEM. HE STATED THAT DURING A SWATH RUN, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE OR WHIRRING SOUND AND INITIALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A SPRAY PUMP PROPELLER FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY, HE PULLED UP, STARTED A LEFT TURN TO LAND, AND BEGAN DUMPING THE LOAD. AT THE SAME TIME, HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN IN A CUT-OVER AREA, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A STUMP AND THE PLANE CRASHED. THE ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND CAME TO REST PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE CARBURETOR HAD SEPARATED AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAD FAILED IN TENSION. THE MIXTURE CONTROL PUSH-PULL WIRE WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CARBURETOR. AN EXAMINATION OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL WIRE ATTACH END REVEALED NO SIGNS OF TENSILE LOADING OR SCRATCHES ON THE WIRE; THE ATTACHING HARDWARE COULD NOT BE FOUND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application
  - miscellaneous - undetermined (cause)
  - mixture control,linkage - disconnected (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5522S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5522S-1983-04-29), registration cancelled 1983-04-29, S/N 1880022, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188
- Registry model: [Cessna 188](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-188) (registry code 2073002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 3652
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Old Dominion Fertilizer
- Registered owner: Old Dominion Fertilizer
- Departed: W97, WEST POINT, VA
- Destination: W97, WEST POINT, VA
- Airport: W97, West Point Virginia, runway 9, 3,700 × 0 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 895 total, 264 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 185 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820517016639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820517016639A), May 17, 1982: Cessna 188CESSNA, West Point, VA, Substantial damage. Lost power during a spray test run. Stall landed in rough cut over area. Mixture control found disconnected.

## Other investigations on N5522S (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA72FKT76](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FKT76), May 14, 1972: Cessna 188 (N5522S), Big Pine Key, FL, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA67D0069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67D0069), Jul 9, 1966: Cessna 188 (N5522S), Marathon, FL, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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