# NTSB DEN87DTG01: Cessna 188, N3530Q, Valley City, ND, August 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 4, 1987, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Valley City, ND
- Coordinates: 46.92065, -98.000404 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9207&lon=-98.0004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87DTG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17068/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87DTG01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application
  - fuel system,vent - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG LOST PWR DRG A SWATH RUN & THE ACFT WAS DMGD DRG A FORCED LNDG IN A FIELD OF MATURE SUNFLOWERS. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS & THE GASCOLATER CONTAINED FUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENG WAS STARTED AT THE ACDNT SITE & IT RAN NORMALLY TO 1000 RPM, BUT WAS NOT OPERATED AT A HIGHER RPM DUE TO A BENT PROP. THE OWNER- OPERATOR RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, FUEL FED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK FASTER THAN FROM THE RIGHT, WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE ON POSITION. ALSO, HE RPRTD THAT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE BLADDER LINERS OF THE FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE UNSNAPPED & APPEARED TO HAVE COLLAPSED; BUT RPRTDLY, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN OTHER THAN TO REATTACH THE BLADDERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3530Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3530Q-2012-10-04), registration cancelled 2012-10-04, S/N 188-0480, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 188
- Registry model: [Cessna A188](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188) (registry code 2073004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 188-0480
- Airframe hours: 2731
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Lon E. Sinness, doing business as Sky Tractor Applicators
- Registered owner: Sinness, Lon E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1986, 240 hours before
- Departed: DAZEY, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19870804043149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870804043149A), Aug 4, 1987: Cessna A188, Valley City, ND, Substantial damage. The agricultural spray aircraft landed in sunflowers after engine failure. Fuel bladder collapsed, blocking vent.

## Other investigations on N3530Q (1)

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.

- [NTSB ATL82DA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA186), Jul 6, 1982: Cessna A188 (N3530Q), Statesboro, GA, substantial damage

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.

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