# NTSB CEN15CA293: Cessna A188B, N625EH, Crawfordsville, IN, July 5, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 5, 2015, 18:31 local (22:31 UTC)
- Place: Crawfordsville, IN
- Coordinates: 39.975555, -86.919723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9756&lon=-86.9197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91495
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA293
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91495/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91495
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA293

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the powerline during an aerial application operations.

## 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)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: 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

The airplane impacted a powerline during an aerial application maneuver. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage on impact with the powerline and terrain. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

## Factual narrative

The airplane impacted a powerline during an aerial application maneuver. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage on impact with the powerline and terrain. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N625EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N625EH-2017-01-26), registration cancelled 2017-01-26, S/N 18801568T, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B (B)
- 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: 18801568T
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 2337.7
- Engines: Continenetal Motors IO-520-D34 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Swing Wing Inc
- Registered owner: Swing Wing Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2015
- Departed: CFJ, CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN
- Destination: CFJ, CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 407 total, 108 in this make and model, 336 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: CFJ, 1 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 20150705010679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150705010679A), Jul 5, 2015: Cessna A188B, Crawfordsville, IN, Destroyed. On July 5, 2015, at 1830 EDT, a Cessna 188B, N625EH, registered to swing wing inc., impacted terrain after it collided with high tension power lines. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91495. 802 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 802 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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