# NTSB ATL95LA126: Cessna A188B, N6296G, Decatur, AL, July 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1995, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Decatur, AL - Coordinates: 34.570728, -86.980072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5707&lon=-86.9801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3587/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA126 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE UNDETERMINED AIRCRAFT PROBLEM AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL AFTER ARRIVING AT THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED. HE STATED THAT DURING THE FOURTH SWATH RUN, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT FEEL AS 'SOLID' AS IT HAD EARLIER. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. DURING A TEST RUN, THE ENGINE PRODUCED RATED POWER. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1995, at 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N6296G, collided with terrain during a precautionary landing in a field near Decatur, Alabama. The commercial instrument pilot was not injured, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The aerial application flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Decatur, Alabama, at 1000 hours According to the pilot, before departing Pryor Field in Decatur, Alabama, he loaded the aircraft with 50 gallons of chemical spray. He performed a run up prior to departure, and noticed that the fuel flow indication was a bit high. He leaned the mixture slightly to bring it within the green arc, but it still did not look normal on the exhaust gas temperature gauge (EGT). The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to have a longer takeoff roll than normal. Upon approaching the field, the pilot began making passes in a race track type pattern. He noticed on the first pass over the field that all of the engine gauges looked normal. When he had finished his fourth pass over the field, the pilot noticed that the plane did not feel as "solid" as it should. As he turned back toward the field, he realized that he may have a real problem with the aircraft, because the ground speed then began to slow. The pilot stated that he began looking for a precautionary landing site. The engine continued to produce power throughout the precautionary procedure. The pilot stated that just as he was lined up with a field that was adequate for precautionary landing, he heard a "whaaaa" noise, followed by a wing shutter. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed. An examination of the engine was completed, and no mechanical malfunctions were found. During the subsequent engine test run, the engine started immediately, and produced rated power during the test run (see attached engine examination). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6296G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6296G-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 18801179T, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18801179T - Airframe hours: 3983 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Verlin Seiskes - Registered owner: Flint Hills Aircraft Sales - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 1995, 82 hours before - Departed: DCU, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 6,810 total, 10 in this make and model, 6,468 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 12 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 19950703016139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950703016139A), Jul 3, 1995: Cessna A188B, Decatur, AL, Substantial damage. Reported problem with spray plane. Crashed on precautionary landing. Collapsed landing gear. No anomalies found. 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.