# NTSB CHI96LA239: Cessna A188B, N9703J, Saint Charles, MO, July 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1996, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Saint Charles, MO - Coordinates: 38.789371, -90.509506 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7894&lon=-90.5095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10309/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA239 ## Probable cause a partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. The factors involved were the pilot did not perform load jettison and low airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis While conducting aerial application maneuvers, the pilot noticed a partial loss of engine power. The pilot tried to climb over the trees but was unable to due to the loss of airspeed. He was unable to dump his chemical load and impacted terrain hard. No discrepancies were found with the engine or dump valve. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1996, at 1015 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna A188B, N9703J, registered to W. L. S. Flying Service, of Litchfield, Illinois, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a farmer's field approximately 1/4 mile north of the Saint Charles County Airport, Saint Charles, Missouri. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from the Saint Charles County Airport, Saint Charles, Missouri, at 1005 cdt. According to the pilot's written statement, he loaded the airplane with 1,000 pounds of millet seed and 3/4 of a tank of 100 low lead fuel (40 gallons). The takeoff and climb out were normal. The pilot conducted three to four aerial application passes when he noticed that the airplane's engine "...was running smooth but with a definite loss of power." The pilot tried to climb over the tall trees but lost a lot of airspeed. The pilot stated, "At this point, the airplane was very difficult to control. I had to push full forward just to keep from stalling. The airplane never did stall, but because the plane was loaded, the landing was very hard." Before impact with the terrain, the pilot attempted to dump the load with out success. The pilot stated, "Everything seemed to happen in just a few seconds, and my main concern was to try to keep the plane flying." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), represented the NTSB on-scene. The PMI inspected the engine and accessories. No discrepancies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9703J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9703J), registered now, S/N 18803841T, built 1981 (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: 18803841T - Airframe hours: 3086 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: W. L. S. Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1996, 74 hours before - Departed: 3SZ - Destination: 3SZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,410 total, 1,590 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: STL, 11 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960715017169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960715017169A), Jul 15, 1996: Cessna A188B, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost power during aerial application and landed in a nearby field. 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.