# NTSB CEN15LA250: Cessna T188C, N1965J, Pine Bluffs, WY, May 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2015, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluffs, WY - Coordinates: 41.180458, -104.059898 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1805&lon=-104.0599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA250 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control to the right for reasons that could not be determined during examination of the right main landing gear wheel and brake drum. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable during the landing approach. Upon touchdown and the pilot's application of forward elevator control, the airplane veered sharply right. The pilot made "full aerodynamic controls" inputs and applied the left brake, but the airplane did not stop veering right. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and struck a small berm, which bent the left main landing gear aft. The airplane slid to a stop, crushing the engine cowling and wrinkling both wings. The only skid marks found on the runway after the accident were made by the left tire. When the airplane was raised by a lift, the right tire assembly spun freely. The right brake drum was found to be deeply grooved, but there was no indication that the right wheel had seized. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2015, about 0700 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T188C, N1965J, departed the right side of the runway 08 after landing at Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport (82V), Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Circle S Aviation, LLC, Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from 82V about 0540. The pilot said the winds were light and variable as he made his landing approach. Upon touch down and upon application of forward elevator control, the airplane veered sharply to the right. Full aerodynamic control inputs and the application of left brake did not stop the veer. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a small berm. The left main landing gear was bent aft, and the airplane slid to a stop, crushing the engine cowling and wrinkling both wings. The pilot's verbal statement given to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and his written statement contained in this accident report were similar. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the only skid marks on the runway were from the left tire. When the aircraft was raised by a lift, the right tire assembly spun freely. The right brake drum was found to be deeply grooved, but there was no indication the right wheel had seized. The reason for the runway departure could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1965J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1965J-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N T18803308T, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803308T - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 6058 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Circle S Aviation, LLC - Registered owner: Circle S Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2015 - Departed: 81V, Pine Bluffs, WY - Destination: 82V, Pine Bluffs, WY - Airport: 82V, Pine Bluffs Municipal, runway 08, 5,331 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,538 total, 390 in this make and model, 1,260 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: 82V ## 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 20150527010229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150527010229A), May 27, 2015: Cessna T188C, Pine Bluffs, WY, Destroyed. On may 27, 2015, at approximately 0700, the pilot lost control of N1965J, a Cessna C-188 ag wagon, during landing on runway 8 at Pine Bluffs, Wy. It was the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91296. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Map of Accident Area (item 2, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Underside of aircraft (item 4, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Underside%20of%20aircraft-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wrinkles in left wing skin (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wrinkles%20in%20left%20wing%20skin-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Underside of right wing (item 6, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Underside%20of%20right%20wing-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Left front view of crushed engine cowling (item 7, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Left%20front%20view%20of%20crushed%20engine%20cowling-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.