# NTSB FTW01LA204: Cessna A188B, N2162J, Harrisonburg, LA, September 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 2001, 07:10 local (12:10 UTC) - Place: Harrisonburg, LA - Coordinates: 31.759159, -91.80941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7592&lon=-91.8094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53407/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA204 ## Probable cause loss of control during approach for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The agricultural airplane was making an approach to land at a private airstrip when according to the pilot, the control stick locking device (gust lock) fell into the lock position, jaming the control stick. The airplane was "very" low, its left wing struck the ground, and the airplane cart wheeled separating both wings. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during an examination of the airplane. According to the aircraft manufacturer, to engage the gust lock, the assembly is rotated by hand from under the instrument panel to a point above the aircraft control stick. The barrel portion of the lock is then lowered onto the control stick. During the examination of the airplane, the barrel portion of contact with the control lock could not be located and no evidence of contact with the control lock barrel was noted on the control stick ## Factual narrative On September 6, 2001, approximately 0710 central daylight time, a Cessna A188B agricultural airplane, N2162J, was destroyed by terrain impact and fire near Harrisonburg, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Mowata Flying Service, Inc., of Eunice, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from Jonesville Airport, Jonesville, Louisiana, at 0700, and was en route to the Robbins Flying Service private airstrip located approximately 5 miles northeast of the Jonesville Airport. According to the operator, the pilot reported that "while making an approach to land" at the Robbins Flying Service airstrip, "the control stick locking device [gust lock] fell in the lock position, causing the control stick to jam, he was very low, causing the aircraft to hit the ground" short of the airstrip. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the airplane impacted the ground on an easterly direction. The airplane's left wing struck the ground and the airplane cart wheeled separating both wings. The airplane's cockpit area was consumed by fire. The airplane wreckage was transported to Windance Salvage, Ben Wheeler, Texas. According to the aircraft manufacturer, the gust lock on this aircraft consists of a barrel that fits over the control column. The gust lock is attached to a horizontal support bar under the instrument panel. Two springs on the lock are designed to keep the lock under the instrument panel when the lock is not in use. To engage the gust lock, the assembly is rotated by hand from under the instrument panel to a point above the aircraft control stick. The barrel portion of the lock is then lowered onto the control stick. An examination of the airframe and engine was conducted by representatives of Cessna Aircraft and Teledyne Continental Motors under the supervision of the FAA at Windance Salvage on September 20, 2001. The barrel portion of the control lock could not be located and no evidence of contact with the control lock barrel was noted on the control stick. The portion of the control lock that attaches to the horizontal support under the instrument panel was located. The springs designed to swing the lock out of the way were still present. The control stick had separated from the aircraft frame at its mounting point. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during the examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2162J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2162J-2002-01-25), registration cancelled 2002-01-25, S/N 18803399T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18803399T - Airframe hours: 3769 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mowata Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2001, 90 hours before - Departed: F88, Jonesboro, LA - Destination: NONE, Harrisonburg, LA - Airport: NONE, Robbins Flying Service ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 4,614 total, 300 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 20010906032229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010906032229A), Sep 6, 2001: Cessna A188B, Clayton, LA, No damage. (-23) On September 6, 2001 at approximately 08:00 CDT a Cessna model CE-188-AB registration number N2162J operated by mowata flying service, inc. crashed into… 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.