# NTSB FTW03LA025: Cessna T188C, N4779J, Seminole, TX, October 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 2002, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Seminole, TX - Coordinates: 32.68111, -102.654441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6811&lon=-102.6544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55973/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA025 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis After the agricultural airplane departed the private airstrip en route to a field to be sprayed, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that the "aircraft seemed to be nose heavy and would not maintain [airspeed] or altitude." The pilot attempted to return to the airstrip; however, he determined that he could not reach the airstrip and initiated a forced landing to a cotton field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest upright. The pilot did not dispense the chemical load during the loss of airspeed and altitude. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 2002, approximately 1045 central standard time, a Cessna T188C single-engine agricultural airplane, N4779J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cotton field following a loss of engine power near Seminole, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed from a private airstrip approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that while enroute to a field to be sprayed, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that the "aircraft seemed to be nose heavy and would not maintain [airspeed] or altitude." The pilot attempted to return to the airstrip; however, he determined that he could not reach the airstrip and initiated a forced landing to a cotton field. According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, during the forced landing, the airplane struck a dirt berm and came to rest upright. The inspector reported the right wing was damaged and the right main landing gear was separated. The inspector reported that the pilot did not attempt to dispense the chemical load during the loss of airspeed and altitude. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4779J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4779J-2023-10-19), registration cancelled 2023-10-19, S/N T18803765T, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803765T - Airframe hours: 8643 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: John Wesley Addison - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2002, 76 hours before - Departed: Seminole, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 3,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 400 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20021029030559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021029030559A), Oct 29, 2002: Cessna T188C, Seminole, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 29, 2002, at approximately 10:45 CST, local time, the pilot of a Cessna 188-T agricultural aircraft, N4779J, experienced loss of power. While… 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.