# NTSB FTW96LA094: Cessna A188B, N4744Q, Enid, OK, January 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 12, 1996, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Enid, OK - Location: 36.3956° N, 97.8784° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Enid, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3956&lon=-97.8784&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19741 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19741/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the forced landing and to jettison the aircraft's load for a forced landing. A factor was the engine's failure due to a disconnected fuel line which was the result of improper maintenance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - maintenance,replacement - improper, unknown (contributing factor) - fuel system,line fitting - disconnected (contributing factor) - Forced landing, cruise - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - not possible, pilot in command - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was on its first flight since completion of maintenance. The aerial application flight had flown less than a mile from its takeoff point, when the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a flat soft wheat field. It was also reported to the FAA inspector, that the pilot did not jettison the hopper load, which is part of the emergency landing without engine power procedures for that airplane. The pilot stated that 'when I attempted to flare to land, I lacked enough airspeed to fully stop the descent.' The airplane was structurally damaged during the hard bounced landing. Post impact inspection of the power plant revealed that the fuel line was disconnected from the flow divider. ## Factual narrative On January 12, 1996, at 1650 central standard time, a Cessna A188B, N4744Q, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Enid, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by the Carson Flying Service, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The flight originated from a private airstrip approximately 5 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, the airplane was on it's first flight since completion of maintenance. The aerial application flight had flown less than a mile from it's takeoff point at approximately 150' AGL, when the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a wheat field that "was flat but somewhat soft." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, that he did not jettison the hopper load, which is part of the emergency landing without engine power procedures for that airplane. The pilot stated that "when I attempted to flare to land, I lacked enough airspeed to fully stop the descent." The airplane bounced twice before coming to rest on its third impact. The left main landing gear separated from the aircraft, both wing tips were damaged, and the engine fire wall was damaged. The pilot stated that, "after exiting the aircraft, I found the fuel line from the fuel control unit to the flow divider had come off at the flow divider end." According to the engine logbook, the starter adapter had been replaced and the fuel line was disconnected to facilitate the installation. The pilot further stated that the fuel line "had apparently been inadequately torqued during maintenance performed earlier in the day." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4744Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4744Q-2016-11-01), registration cancelled 2016-11-01, S/N 18802506T, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A188B - 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: 18802506T - Airframe hours: 4128 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Carson Flying Service, Inc - Registered owner: John D. Carson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 6,847 total, 4,365 in this make and model, 6,766 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WDG, 15 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 19960112000519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960112000519A), Jan 12, 1996: Cessna A188B, Enid, OK, Substantial damage. Lost power en route to spray field. Failed to dump load. Landed hard in wheat field. Fuel line came off flow divider ## Other investigations on N4744Q (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW78FRG29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FRG29), Mar 28, 1978: Cessna 188 (N4744Q), Falfurrias, TX, 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.