# NTSB CEN20LA271: Cessna T188, N2690J, Dustin, OK, July 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2020, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Dustin, OK - Coordinates: 35.154167, -95.987777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1542&lon=-95.9878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA, Textron, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 101574 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101574/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101574 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA271 ## Probable cause The pilot’s continued takeoff without ensuring obstacles could be avoided due to his use of a sedating medication, which likely diminished his reaction time and flying performance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: oTC medication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012030): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012030/cases.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T188C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073012), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting his second aerial application flight of the day. According to a witness, the airplane had been topped off with fuel before the first flight and 165 gallons of chemical just before the accident flight. The witness stated that the airplane became airborne later than he expected. After departure, the airplane angled left from the runway heading and its wingtip impacted a power pole. It then hit power lines and another pole before coming to rest inverted in a draw. A postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing indicated the pilot had the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in his blood at the time of the accident. The levels detected were above the therapeutic level for diphenhydramine. Given the pilot’s years of experience and familiarity with the aircraft, it is reasonable to consider that his reaction time and flying performance were diminished due to the use of sedating medication, which resulted in the impact with the power pole. ## Factual narrative WEIGHT AND BALANCE The witness stated that the airplane was loaded with about 165 gallons of pre-emergent weed control and the tanks had been topped off (52 gallons) prior to the previous flight. He estimated the weight of the chemical to be about the same as water (8 lbs per gallon) since it was a mixed solution. The airplane had an empty weight of about 2,214lbs and a maximum takeoff weight of 4,200lbs. The combined empty weight of the airplane (2,214lbs), chemical (1,320lbs), fuel (312lbs) and pilot (169lbs) totaled about 4,015lbs. Although the FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet lists the maximum gross weight of the Cessna 188 series airplanes as 3,300lbs, the following note is contained in the document, in part: NOTE 3. When operating in restricted category, operators may approve higher maximum weights as permitted by FAA Advisory Circular No. 20-33B and Civil Aeronautics Manual 8. With respect to this action, these aircraft have demonstrated satisfactory operation in the restricted category envelope given at 1500 ft. altitude and standard day at the following restricted gross weights: 188 Series 3,800 lb. T188C Series (Serials T18802839T, T18803307T, T18803308T, T18803325T and on) 4,400 lb. On July 10, 2020, about 1440 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna T188C, N2690J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dustin, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight. According to another company pilot who witnessed the accident, after taking on a load of about 165 gallons of herbicide, the airplane began its takeoff run. After departure, the airplane impacted a utility pole with the wingtip. It then hit power lines and another pole before coming to rest inverted in a draw. The witness stated that the airplane became airborne later than he expected. Toxicology testing detected diphenhydramine in the pilot’s femoral blood at 226 (ng/mL) and urine. The non-sedating medication tamsulosin was detected in the pilot’s cavity blood and urine. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine (commonly marketed as Benadryl) and is available over the counter in many products used to treat colds, allergies, and insomnia. The therapeutic range is 25 to 100 ng/mL. It carries the warning that use may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks. The density altitude was computed to be 2892ft MSL. The airplane’s right fiberglass wingtip initially impacted a utility pole located about 1,000 ft from the departure end of the turf runway just above the bottom power wire, then separated from the wing. A few small wood fragments from the utility pole were observed embedded under rivet heads common to the most outboard wingtip rib. After impact with the first pole and wires, a second pole was impacted. The airplane then traveled about 180 ft before it impacted the terrain inverted,which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. (See figure 1). Figure 1: Map of Accident Location ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2690J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2690J), registered now, S/N T18803498T, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188 (C) - 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: T18803498T - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Agratech Inc - Registered owner: Agratech Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,100 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: kmlc ## 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 20200710020099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200710020099A), Jul 10, 2020: Cessna T188C, Dustin, OK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. This was an aerial application flight. According to another company pilot who witnessed the accident, after taking on a load of about 165 gallons of herbicide,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101574. 3.2 MB in all. - Witness interview (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12392482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12392472&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Medical factual (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12392601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA271_Dustin_OK_Medical_Factual_FINAL_022521-Rel.pdf - Oil analysis (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12392650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Oil%20Analysis%20CEN20LA271_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12391446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12405552&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12405111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo-Rel.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.