# NTSB FTW04LA214: Cessna T188C, N9314J, Heth, AR, August 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2004, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Heth, AR - Coordinates: 35.068054, -90.483886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0681&lon=-90.4839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA214 ## 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, landing - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 5,002-hour pilot reported that as he advanced the throttle to increase engine power while on final approach for landing, "none was available." The airplane settled within tall grass just short of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane rolled into a 10-15 foot deep gulley and came to rest upright. No anomalies were noted during the examination of the airframe. The engine was successfully run and was found to be free of anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2004, approximately 1615 central daylight time, a Cessna T188C, single-engine tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane, N9314J, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while landing at a private airstrip near Heth, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Hutcherson Flying Service, Inc., of Forrest City, Arkansas. 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 the private airstrip at 1424. The 5,002-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that as he advanced the throttle to increase engine power while on final approach for landing, "none was available." The airplane settled within tall grass just short of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane rolled into a 10-15 foot deep gulley and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the engine firewall was bent, and both wings were structurally damaged. According to the aircraft's maintenance logbooks, the airplane had accumulated approximately 116 hours since the last 100-hour inspection on July 2, 2004. At that time, the airframe total time was 4,149 hours. On January 19, 2005, at the facilities of Dawson Aircraft Inc., near Clinton, Arkansas, under supervision of an FAA inspector, the Continental TSIO-520-T engine was successfully started and run for approximately ten minutes. No anomalies were noted during the engine run. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9314J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9314J-2008-02-13), registration cancelled 2008-02-13, S/N T18803794T (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T188C - Registry model: [Cessna T188C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t188c) (registry code 2073012) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T18803794T - Airframe hours: 4149 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-T 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Hutcherson Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 2, 2004, 116 hours before - Departed: Heth, AR - Airport: Heth Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 15, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 966 total, 966 in this make and model, 4,967 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots, gusting 5 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: AWM, 25 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 20040816023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040816023489A), Aug 16, 2004: Cessna T188C, Heth, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 16, 2004 at approximately 1615 CDT a Cessna T188C, single engine tail-wheel equipped agricultural airplane N9314J, sustained substantial damage… 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.