# NTSB ERA10LA059: Cessna A188B, N9368G, Ripley, MS, November 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 2009, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Ripley, MS
- Coordinates: 34.722221, -89.014999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7222&lon=-89.0150&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 6, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75039
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75039/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA059

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power due to water in the fuel.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane before starting the engine and letting it warm up for about 5 minutes. He then back-taxied on the runway and performed the run-up checklist before taking off. He subsequently flew the traffic pattern and was on final approach, at an altitude of about 500 feet, when the engine lost power about 250 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane then “went into a right hand dive and hit the ground.” A witness heard the engine “sputter and pop loudly,” and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector subsequently found water in the fuel. Propeller signatures indicated that it was turning under power when it contacted the ground.

## Factual narrative

On November 8, 2009, about 1000 central standard time, a Cessna A188B, N9368G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on final approach to Ripley Airport (25M), Ripley, Mississippi. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane before starting the engine and letting it warm up for about 5 minutes. He then back-taxied on runway 3, and performed the run-up checklist before taking off. He subsequently flew the traffic pattern and was on final approach, at an altitude of about 500 feet, when the engine lost power about 250 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane then “went into a right hand dive and hit the ground.” One witness, who was sitting on his sofa in his house, heard the airplane “sputter and pop loudly.” After that, he “did not hear the engine and assumed the plane went down.” When he went outside, he “saw the airplane sitting adjacent to [his] house.” Another witness was in a field when he saw the airplane fly over, “and heard the plane sputtering and cutting out.” When he spoke to the pilot, the pilot stated that “the engine had lost power.” According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, an on-scene examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing and the engine were separated from the airplane, that there was no fuel in the left wing tank, and that the little fuel that could be found was contaminated with water. According to a sheriff’s department report, the responding officer noted that fuel was “leaking…from the wing and was on the ground” when he arrived. Accident photographs revealed that one of the two propeller blades was almost straight, but exhibited chordwise scratching, significant leading edge burnishing in one area, and curling at the blade tip with part of the tip torn off. The other propeller blade exhibited chordwise scratching, some s-bending along most of its length, and severe s-bending and curling at the blade tip. The FAA inspector noted that due to the pilot relinquishing his certificate, no further examination of the airplane was conducted. The pilot, age 43, held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating, and reported 394 hours of total flight time. Winds, recorded at an airport 29 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, at 1001, were from 060 degrees true, at 11 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9368G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9368G-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 18801460, built 1973 (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: 18801460
- Airframe hours: 9765
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2009, 12 hours before
- Departed: 25M, Ripley, MS
- Destination: 25M, Ripley, MS
- Airport: 25M, Ripley Airport, runway 03, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 394 total, 20 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: TUP, 29 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 20091108053809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091108053809A), Nov 8, 2009: Cessna A188B, Ripley, MS, Substantial damage. The pilot reported the aircraft lost power as he was attempting to land on runway 3 at the Ripley, MS (25M) airport. The aircraft crashed approximately 250…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75039. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 668 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Sheriff Statement (item 4, .PDF, 907 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sheriff%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record (item 6, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF
- FAA Photo: Aircraft Wreckage (item 7, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo%3A%20Aircraft%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- FAA Photo: Propeller Blade (item 8, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo%3A%20Propeller%20Blade-Master.PDF

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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