# NTSB CEN24LA285: Cessna A188B, N9576G, Sumner, NE, July 24, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 24, 2024, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Sumner, NE - Coordinates: 40.858723, -99.534791 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8587&lon=-99.5348&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194780/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194780 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA285 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during the spray pass. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); 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) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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) ## Analysis The operator reported, the pilot was conducting a low-level aerial application flight when the airplane impacted a power line at the start of a spray pass. Following the collision, the airplane impacted an agricultural field which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, the empennage, and both sets of wings. The operator reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9576G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9576G), registered now, S/N 18801542, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B - 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: 18801542 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4231 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2024 - Departed: LXN, Lexington, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KLXN, 12 nm away - METAR: KLXN 242055Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 33/17 A3015 RMK AO2 T03300172 ## 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 20240724009639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240724009639A), Jul 24, 2024: Cessna A188B, Overton, NE, Substantial damage. While conducting agriculture operations, the landing gear struck the top, grounding wire of a set of high-tension power lines. The cable tangled in the left… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194780. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17797503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17798293&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.