# NTSB CHI07CA218: Cessna 188A, N4412Q, New Hartford, MO, July 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2007, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: New Hartford, MO - Coordinates: 39.150001, -91.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1500&lon=-91.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66349 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66349/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA218 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tree line during the turn between aerial application passes. The low altitude, the downdraft encountered by the pilot, and the trees were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during an agricultural application pass. The pilot stated that he had completed one pass and was turning back to make another when he encountered a "thermal." The airplane was approximately 150 feet above ground level in a 45-degree "plus" banked turn at the time. He noted that as he started to rollout, the airplane began to "sink in what seem[ed] to be a thermal." The airplane was about 40 feet above and 250 feet in front of a tree line at the time of the encounter. The pilot stated: "I added full power [and] lowered the nose, [but] was unable to recover from the thermal." The airplane contacted the trees and "with all lift gone and more trees ahead," he elected to land in the cornfield. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during an agricultural application pass. The pilot stated that he had completed one pass and was turning back to make another when he encountered a "thermal." The airplane was approximately 150 feet above ground level in a 45-degree "plus" banked turn at the time. He noted that as he started to rollout, the airplane began to "sink in what seem[ed] to be a thermal." The airplane was about 40 feet above and 250 feet in front of a tree line at the time of the encounter. The pilot stated: "I added full power [and] lowered the nose, [but] was unable to recover from the thermal." The airplane contacted the trees and "with all lift gone and more trees ahead," he elected to land in the cornfield. The pilot reported no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4412Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4412Q), registered now, S/N 18800812, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188A - Registry model: [Cessna A188A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188a) (registry code 2073008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18800812 - Airframe hours: 4495 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: H19, Bowling Green, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 25,017 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 24,773 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UIN ## 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 20070716013709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070716013709A), Jul 16, 2007: Cessna A188A, New Hartford, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot said he "lost air." He said he was finishing a level turn to return to the field he was spraying when the airplane clipped a tree. The pilot said… 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.