- Date
- August 22, 2001, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Almond, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91138Cessna 188
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010822026239A
- Case key
- 53097
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the corn crop. Additional factors were the inoperative spray pump, the corn crop, and the pilot's diverted attention.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground while spraying a field of corn. The pilot reported, "Upon arrival at the field, it became evident my spray pump was inoperative. My attention was diverted for a moment as I was trying to solve the problem, and my wheels got in the crop. I was unable to recover. The terrain was a flat cornfield and the wreckage was all intact in one spot."
Factual narrative
On August 22, 2001, at 0930 central daylight time, a Cessna 188, N91138, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground while spraying a field of corn near Almond, Wisconsin. The airplane descended into the corn crop while the pilot's attention was diverted by a mechanical problem with the spray pump. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial spraying flight had departed a private airstrip near Bancroft, Wisconsin, at 0915 on a local aerial application flight. The observed weather at Stevens Point (STE), Wisconsin, reported winds calm, 3 miles visibility, 500 feet broken, and altimeter 29.89. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported, "Upon arrival at the field, it became evident my spray pump was inoperative. My attention was diverted for a moment as I was trying to solve the problem, and my wheels got in the crop. I was unable to recover. The terrain was a flat cornfield and the wreckage was all intact in one spot."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91138
- Reported as
- Cessna 188
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18802021T
- Airframe hours
- 3,722
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Kent V. Carlson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 6, 2000 · 84 hours before
- Departed
- Bancroft, WI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 6, 2001
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,070 total · 100 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- STE, 20 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.
Other investigations on N91138 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.