# NTSB ERA21FA184: Cessna A188, N4912Q, Pineview, GA, April 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: April 13, 2021, 08:52 local (12:52 UTC) - Place: Pineview, GA - Coordinates: 32.104723, -83.563501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1047&lon=-83.5635&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 102906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21FA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102906/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102906 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA184 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in collision with powerlines during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A188B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073005), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had been performing aerial application over the local area for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and had two more residences to spray before returning to the departure airport. Witnesses and GPS data revealed that the airplane was travelling northeast, about 50 ft above ground level, when it collided with powerlines. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The powerlines were depicted on the area sectional aeronautical chart, and solar calculations revealed that sun glare was not a factor because the sun was approximately 23° above the horizon and 50° to the right of the airplane’s track at the time of the accident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while operating at low altitude during the aerial application flight, which resulted in collision with powerlines. ## Factual narrative Data downloaded from an onboard GPS revealed that the airplane was on a northeasterly track toward the powerlines. The last position recorded was at 0852:43, about 3/4-mile southwest of the accident site, indicating a groundspeed of 116 mph and a GPS altitude of 327 ft. The elevation at the accident site was 315 ft mean sea level. The sectional aeronautical chart that covered the area of the accident depicted the powerlines struck by the airplane. Solar calculations for the location and time of accident revealed that the sun was approximately 23° above the horizon and 50° to the right of the airplane’s track. On April 13, 2021, about 0852 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4912Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pineview, Georgia. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was based at a private airstrip in Unadilla, Georgia. According to the operator, the airplane departed Unadilla about 0705 with about 2 hours 30 minutes of fuel onboard. The pilot was spraying for mosquitos when the airplane collided with powerlines. At the time, he had two more residences to spray before returning to the airstrip. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Georgia Division of Forensic Sciences. The cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing was performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory. The results were negative for alcohol and other drugs. The wreckage was located inverted, about 8 miles southeast of the departure airstrip, in a field near powerlines. The powerlines were about 50 ft above ground level and damage to the powerlines and landing gear were consistent with both main landing gear contacting the powerlines in a west-to-east direction. Both main landing gear separated during impact with the powerlines, and the propeller and lower engine cowling also exhibited damage from contact with the powerlines. The powerlines were approximately 1.25 inches thick, consisting of a steel core with aluminum wires twisted around the core. Flight control continuity was established to the ailerons, elevator, and rudder. All flight control surfaces remained attached to the structure. The manual flap handle was in an extended position. The pilot’s seat was fitted with a three-point safety harness. The webbings remained intact and were cut by first responders. The buckle remained fastened. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated by hand at the propeller, which remained attached to the crankshaft; suction and compression were observed on all cylinders and no internal binding was observed. One propeller blade was bent forward 180° at midspan and then bent aft at the tip. The other blade was twisted. Both blades exhibited leading edge polishing/grinding along the outboard one-third of each blade. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4912Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4912Q-2022-11-26), registration cancelled 2022-11-26, S/N 18802647T, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A188 (B) - 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: 18802647T - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 7554 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 91 - Operator: A&C Ag Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: A&C Ag Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2021, 23 hours before - Departed: Unadilla, GA - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: fatal; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2021; seat: single; flight hours: 4,511 total, 50 in this make and model, 3,284 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: MCN, 35 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 20210413004509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210413004509A), Apr 13, 2021: Cessna A188B, Pineview, GA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On April 13, 2021, at approximately 0900 eastern daylight time, a 1976 Cessna A188B, with registration N4912Q, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102906. 9.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12757795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12757775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot flight experience (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12680140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Insurance%20Hours_Redacted1-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679822&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12680122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Global positioning system (GPS) device - specialist's factual report (item 9, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12337016&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=era21fa184%20satloc%20bantam%20m3_fordocket-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to global positioning system (GPS) device - specialist's factual report (item 10, CSV, 807 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12980652&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20ERA21FA184_final2-Rel.csv - Solar calculations (item 11, PDF, 2 pages, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12757898&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Solar%20Calculator-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 12, PDF, 9 pages, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679840&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release and evidence control forms (item 13, PDF, 2 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12679958&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20And%20Evidence_Redacted-Rel.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. --- 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.