# NTSB CEN18LA350: Cessna A188, N78417, Atchison, KS, August 22, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 2018, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Atchison, KS - Coordinates: 39.575832, -95.181114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5758&lon=-95.1811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA350 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA350 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during the postaccident examination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); 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) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting agricultural application operations. He reported that, after topping off the airplane with fuel and flying two loads, on the third takeoff, the airplane "would not come off the ground." He checked the engine controls, then dumped the load in an unsuccessful attempt to become airborne before the end of the runway. The airplane continued off the runway and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane owner witnessed the attempted takeoff and reported that the engine puffed black smoke during the takeoff run. He added that the fuel servo provided a mixture that was too rich, so the pilots would reduce the mixture on the ground and then use a full rich mixture for takeoff. A visual examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of anomalies. Although the appearance of black smoke from the engine is consistent with an overly rich fuel mixture, based on the information provided by the pilot and no anomalies found during the engine examination, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2018, about 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna A188 airplane, N78417, impacted terrain after departing the Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by McElwain Sprayers, LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported he topped off with fuel in the morning and had flown two previous loads. On the third takeoff, as the airplane was 70 to 75 mph, the airplane "would not come off the ground." He said that the mixture was full rich, and the propeller and throttle controls were full forward. He felt he could not stop on the remaining runway, so he dumped the load, in order to reduce the airplane's weight, in an attempt to get airborne. However, the airplane did not get airborne, and the airplane impacted terrain just beyond the runway. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot said he pulled the mixture control back, turned the magnetos and battery off, and exited the airplane. The airplane's owner saw the attempted takeoff. He reported that the engine puffed black smoke during the takeoff run. He added that the fuel servo provided a mixture that was too rich, so on the ground the pilots would reduce the mixture, and then use a full rich mixture for takeoff. After the accident, he said the mixture control was back two inches, which was too far. The responding Federal Aviator Inspector noted substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A visual inspection of the engine did not find any abnormalities. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78417](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78417), registered now, S/N 18801952T, built 1974 (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: 18801952T - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 10649.4 - Engines: Continental IO-550D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: McElwain Sprayers, LLC - Registered owner: McElwain Russell D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 2018 - Departed: K59, Atchison, KS - Destination: K59, Atchison, KS - Airport: K59, Amelia Earhart Airport, runway 34, 3,000 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: K59 ## 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 20180822012039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180822012039A), Aug 22, 2018: Cessna A188B, Atchison, KS, Substantial damage. Aircraft attempted takeoff on runway 34. At 75 knots pilot attempted rotation but aircraft did not respond with full take off power. Pilot began to dump load… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98156. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memo (item 3, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-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.