# NTSB CEN18LA342: Cessna A188, N9076R, Whitewater, KS, August 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2018, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Whitewater, KS - Coordinates: 37.999168, -97.11528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9992&lon=-97.1153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98108 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98108/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98108 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA342 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to low cylinder compression, which led to the forced landing following a pull-up maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s high gross weight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The pilot was performing an aerial application flight with the airplane loaded with product near its maximum gross weight. As the pilot pulled up to reverse course after the second application pass, the airplane did not fly as expected. Because of his low altitude, he conducted a forced landing in the cornfield. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to left wing, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizers, elevators, and rudder. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the cylinders had low compression. This would have resulted in a partial loss of engine power. It is likely the airplane was at a low energy state during the pull-up maneuver to reverse direction, and the partial engine power loss would have further reduced the airplane's energy. These issues, combined with the airplane's high gross weight, would have made sustained flight difficult. ## Factual narrative ***This report was modified on July 2, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On August 17, 2018, about 1815 central daylight time, a Cessna A188 airplane, N9076R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Whitewater, Kansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. According to the pilot, the airplane departed on an aerial application flight from a nearby airport at 1800. The airplane was loaded with applicant bringing it near it's maximum gross weight. The flight was normal until the second application pass, As the pilot pulled up to reverse course, the airplane did not fly as expected. Due to the low altitude, the pilot attempted to dump the applicant and conducted a forced landing in the cornfield. The pilot was able to flare the airplane prior to impacting in the cornfield. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to left wing, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizers, elevators, and rudder. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed a limited examination when the airplane was removed from the cornfield and could not find any preimpact anomalies with the airframe and engine. Once recovered to a maintenance facility it was discovered that one of the engine cylinders could only hold 10 psi of pressure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9076R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9076R-2020-05-02), registration cancelled 2020-05-02, S/N 18802101T, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188 (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: 18802101T - Year built: 1975 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tri Rotor Spray & Chemical, doing business as Tri-Rotor Spray And Chemical Inc - Registered owner: Tri Rotor Spray & Chemical - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: KEWK, Newton, KS - Destination: KEWK, Newton, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KEWK, 9 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 20180817014369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180817014369A), Aug 17, 2018: Cessna A188B, Whitewater, KS, Substantial damage. Shortly after 6:00 pm, Friday, 08/17/2018 - pilot stated after making the second spray pass over a field of corn, he pulled up and started into his turn when… ## Other investigations on N9076R (2) 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. - [NTSB DEN07LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA114), Jul 9, 2007: Cessna A188B (N9076R), Ulysses, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. - [NTSB CHI00LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA147), May 26, 2000: Cessna A188B (N9076R), Sublette, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to attain aircraft control. Factors to the accident were the uneven terrain, the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on the ground, and the crop. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98108. 1.5 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120 Not Received (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Not%20Received-Master.PDF - Pilot's Email Statement (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Email%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Memo For Record FAA Findings (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20FAA%20Findings-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.