# NTSB CEN11CA495: Cessna A188B, N4725R, Greenstown, IN, July 19, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2011, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Greenstown, IN - Coordinates: 40.47861, -85.899169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4786&lon=-85.8992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA495 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81190/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81190 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA495 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from vegetation that caused increased drag during a low-level maneuvering flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was spraying a corn field at a low altitude. He said that the airplane spray booms contacted the corn and the corn debris accumulated on the boom. He performed a forced landing to a field after the airplane was unable to maintain airspeed and altitude due to the increase in drag. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during the aerial application of a corn field, the airplane altitude became too low. The airplane spray booms contacted the corn and the accumulation of the corn debris on the boom increased drag. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field after the airplane was unable to maintain airspeed and altitude due to the drag increase. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4725R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4725R-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 18802307T, built 1975 (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: 18802307T - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Agri-Green Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Agri-Green Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: M22, Marion, IN - Destination: M22, Greenstown, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 335 total, 80 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: OKK, 6 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 20110719014629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110719014629A), Jul 19, 2011: Cessna A188B, Greenstown, IN, Substantial damage. The pilot in command misjudged his altitude while performing an agricultural operation. The aircraft spray boom and landing gear collected corn stalks as a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81190. 486 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Aircraft Registry Information (item 4, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Registry%20Information-Master.PDF 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.