# NTSB BFO85FID04: Cessna A188B, N4830Q, Farmville, VA, August 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1985, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Farmville, VA
- Coordinates: 37.290077, -78.389289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2901&lon=-78.3893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FID04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11147/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FID04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - ignition system,magneto - arcing (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - load jettison - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING HIS THIRD SWATH RUN OVER A FIELD, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. HE STOPPED SPRAYING AND ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE, BUT THE ROUGHNESS INCREASED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROPPED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FLYING. AS HE PREPARED TO DUMP THE CHEMICALS, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. IT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT WITH TREES & THE TERRAIN. AN EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS A CARBON RESIDUE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR OF THE LEFT MAGNETO AND EVIDENCE OF ARCING BETWEEN THE #5 AND #6 DISTRIBUTOR TERMINALS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4830Q (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18802566T
- Airframe hours: 1889
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D-23 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Barber Spraying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1985, 221 hours before
- Departed: WLL, FARMVILLE, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 600 total, 100 in this make and model, 522 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 70 °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 19850824040199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850824040199A), Aug 24, 1985: Cessna A188B, Farmville, VA, Destroyed. The engine lost power and the aircraft impacted the ground. The left magneto was found fouled with carbon dust.

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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