- Date
- September 10, 2002, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Olivia, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9432JCessna T188C
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020910024919A
- Case key
- 55677
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 fouled spark plugs and the terrain condition encountered during the aborted takeoff.
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 agricultural airplane was substantially damaged during an off airport landing immediately after takeoff when the engine reportedly experienced a partial loss of power by about 200 rpm. The airplane came to rest in a cornfield about 1/2 mile from the runway. Inspection of the engine revealed that the number 1 and 3 spark plugs contained lead deposits and would not fire when under a pressure of 120 psi. The spark plugs were able to fire once they were cleaned.
Factual narrative
On September 10, 2002, at 0845 central daylight time, a Cessna T188C, N9432J, operated by Willmar Aerial Spraying Service Inc., was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from runway 29 (3,498 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Olivia Regional Airport, Olivia, Minnesota. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that immediately after takeoff, the engine started to lose power. The engine lost 200 rpm and the pilot elected to perform an aborted takeoff. The airplane came to rest on a corn field about 1/2 mile from the departure end of runway 29.
Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the number 1 and number 3 lower spark plugs were oil filled and contained lead deposits. The oil was removed and the plugs were operationally checked under pressure. Under standard pressure, the plugs fired intermittently, and under pressure (120 psi) the plug did not fire. The plugs were then cleaned, tested, and subsequently fired under pressure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9432J
- Reported as
- Cessna T188C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T18803804T
- Airframe hours
- 4,883
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-T, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Willmar Aerial Spraying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 29, 2002 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- OVL · Olivia, MN
- Destination
- OVL
- Airport
- OVL · Olivia Regional, runway 29, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 21, 2002
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 8,210 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 8,125 as pilot in command · 400 in the last 90 days · 120 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- OVL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.