# NTSB ATL95LA002: Cessna 188, N731PS, Covington, TN, October 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 1994, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Covington, TN - Coordinates: 35.560199, -89.640792 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5602&lon=-89.6408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3491/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE CENTERLINE OF THE PREPARED RUNWAY AND LANDED IN THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED, BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND DRAGGING THE WING ON THE GROUND. HE REPORTED THAT THE RUDDER HAD NOT RESPONDED TO HIS ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE OVERSHOOT. AN INSPECTION OF THE RUDDER SYSTEM SHOWED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONAL. THE BRAKE PAD WAS NOT EXCESSIVELY WORN, AND THE SEVERED WHEEL BRAKE LINE DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PRE-IMPACT DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 1994, about 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 188, N731PS, groundlooped during the landing roll at Covington, Tennessee. The airplane was operated by Baker Flying Service under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. There were serious injuries to the commercial pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Covington, Tennessee, about 1615. The pilot reported that the airplane veered left during the landing and that the right rudder pedal and brake did not operate to oppose the divergent ground path. An inspector from the Tennessee Flight Standards District Office, Memphis, Tennessee, spoke with the pilot, and examined the accident site and the airplane, after the accident. He reported that the pilot said he was attempting to land on the runway, and overshot it. The airplane landed in the grass beside the runway. Tire tracks showed a normal landing roll, until about the last 700 feet where the tracks showed the airplane veered left, then entered a skid, breaking off the right main landing gear at the attachment point. The right wing then, struck the ground. According to the inspector, the rudder pedal, rudder cable, and rudder functioned. The brake pad did not exhibit excessive wear and the hydraulic line did not exhibit any pre-impact failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731PS-1998-05-01), registration cancelled 1998-05-01, S/N 18803053 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 188 - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803053 - Airframe hours: 4551 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D(26) 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Baker Flying Service - Registered owner: Ben Baker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 1994, 242 hours before - Departed: M04 - Destination: M04, TN - Airport: M04, Covington Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; student, foreign, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,696 total, 1,627 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: NQA, 19 nm away ## 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 19941001032459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941001032459A), Oct 1, 1994: Cessna A188B, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. Overshot runway centerline. Landed in grass. Ground looped. Broke right main and wing tip. No defects. Pilot error. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.