FTW04LA162

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 188B · Rush Springs, OK · June 15, 2004

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 15, 2004, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Rush Springs, OK
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N21650Cessna 188B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 29, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FSDO
FAA report
20040615017779A
Case key
59450

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a utility pole and power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectManeuvering - aerial application
Object - wire,transmission
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - utility pole

Analysis

While maneuvering during an aerial application flight, the airplane impacted two power lines. The 4,180-hour commercial pilot departed the grass airstrip with 65 gallons of water and grazon (chemical) on board. He entered the field from the south to spray on the west side of the field, and over trees. He descended into the field, and immediately impacted a utility pole and two power lines that were aligned east and west. The airplane was able to continue to fly to the airstrip and land.

Factual narrative

On June 15, 2004, approximately 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 188B single-engine agricultural airplane, N21650, was substantially damaged after colliding with a utility pole and power lines while maneuvering near Rush Springs, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. 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 originated from a private airstrip, near Rush Springs, Oklahoma, at an unknown time.

The 4,180-hour pilot reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that he departed the grass airstrip with 65 gallons of water and grazon (chemical) on board. He entered the field from the south to spray on the west side of the field, and over trees. He descended into the field and immediately impacted a utility pole and two power lines that were aligned east and west. The airplane was able to continue to fly to the private airstrip and land.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the empennage of the airplane was twisted. A utility pole was broken and laying in a field near the accident site.

Aircraft

Registration
N21650
Reported as
Cessna 188B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18800933
Airframe hours
4,897
Engine
Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Gene Townsen
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · April 3, 2004 · 78.9 hours before
Departed
Rush Springs, OK
Airport
Rush Springs Airstrip

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
57
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
November 1, 2003
Seat
Front
Flight hours
4,180 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 3,984 as pilot in command · 106 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
86 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.89 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.